Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said that there will be no new restrictions on worshippers’ access to the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan. He said the decision to let worshippers into the compound will be reevaluated each week but worshippers will be permitted to enter the compound during the first week of Ramadan.
“Israel’s policy has always been and will always remain to maintain the freedom of worship for all religions in Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa Mosque. We’ve always acted this way during Ramadan, and we’ll do the same now as well. We’ll do everything to maintain the freedom of worship while appropriately maintaining security and safety needs, allowing all Muslims to celebrate the holiday,” he further added.
Israeli national security minister and firebrand right-wing leader Itamar Ben-Gvir lashed out at his boss following the announcement. “(This shows that) Netanyahu and the war cabinet think that nothing happened on October 7. This decision puts Israel’s citizens in danger and could give Hamas a victory image,” Ben-Gvir said. He had demanded a limit to the entry of worshippers to the Temple Mount/Al Aqsa mosque compound.
A report by Israeli news agency Haaretz said that the Israeli security service Shin Bet opposed Ben-Gvir’s view. Netanyahu’s office later pushed back at the reports, saying the premier “made a balanced decision that allows freedom of religion with necessary security limits, which have been set by professional officials”.
Clashes between Palestinian Muslims and Israelis at the Temple Mount/Al Aqsa mosque compound have increased over the past few years. It should also be noted that in the last two years, after several years the month of Ramadan collided with Passover, Israel’s Independence Day and other Jewish holidays.
In recent years, Israel has imposed restrictions on worshipers visiting the Temple Mount/Al Aqsa mosque compound during Ramadan if clashes broke out during it or if it was celebrated during a Jewish holiday, news agency Haaretz said in its report.
Since the war in 1967, a status quo arrangement between Israel, the Palestinians and Jordan has been in place which prevents non-Muslim worship there and allows visits from non-Muslims at specific times. Jordan is the custodian of Christian and Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem.
United Arab List leader MK Mansour Abbas praised Netanyahu’s move. He urged the Arab community in Israel to “exercise their right to worship and observe the holiday in the coming month, while abiding by the law and maintaining public order”.
“We should not take this chance and endanger [ourselves]. It is impossible that [Israeli] women and children are taken hostage in Gaza, and we will allow Hamas to celebrate its victory on the Temple Mount,” Ben-Gvir said. It should be noted that Hamas’ cited alleged attacks on Palestinians in Al-Aqsa mosque during 2023 Ramadan festivities as one of the reasons behind the October 7 attacks.
Comments
0 comment