Jerusalem:Israeli police have expressed opposition to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's plan to open the Al-Aqsa Mosque to Jewish settlers on Saturdays. This stance marks a significant disagreement with the minister's intentions, which seek to alter the existing arrangements at the mosque.
According to Maan News Agency, the Hebrew website Ynet reported that the Israeli police had prepared a professional position against allowing Jewish visits to the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Saturdays. The police cited security concerns and the sensitivity of the situation at the site, despite Ben-Gvir's push to implement this measure.
Currently, the arrangements permit Jewish access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque from Sunday to Thursday, under specific hours and police supervision. Ben-Gvir aims to remove Saturday restrictions and allow settlers' entry on that day. Last September, he wrote to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu advocating for this change, arguing it would bolster Israeli sovereignty and contribute to the state's security.
The issue aligns with a petition filed by Temple Mount activists to the Israeli Supreme Court in early September, seeking the removal of the Saturday ban for Jews and non-Muslims, labeling the restrictions as unjustified and discriminatory.
Recently, the Israeli police conducted an experiment allowing a group of 15 Jews to enter the mosque with prayer books, coordinated with the Shin Bet. However, the police maintain their refusal to permit the entry of Jewish religious symbols such as tallit and tefillin, as stated by the Jerusalem District Police Commander. Meanwhile, Palestinian authorities have issued warnings against Israeli measures perceived as altering the historical and legal status quo at the mosque.