Jerusalem:Israeli police have expressed opposition to a proposal by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to open the Al-Aqsa Mosque to Jewish settlers on Saturdays. This move represents a significant disagreement with the minister's intentions to alter the current arrangements at the mosque.
According to Maan News Agency, the Hebrew website Ynet reported that the police had formulated a professional stance against allowing Jewish visits to the mosque on Saturdays, despite Ben-Gvir's insistence on implementing this measure. The opposition is primarily due to security concerns and the sensitive nature of the site.
Currently, Jews are permitted to visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque from Sunday to Thursday during specific hours, under police supervision. Ben-Gvir, however, seeks to remove these restrictions for Saturdays as well. In a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last September, Ben-Gvir argued that allowing access on Saturdays would reinforce Israeli sovereignty over the site. He emphasized that Jewish pride and adherence to principles would enhance the security and resilience of the state, warning that yielding to enemy threats could endanger Israel's security.
Ben-Gvir's proposal aligns with a petition submitted by Temple Mount activists to the Israeli Supreme Court, which demands lifting the ban on Jews and non-Muslims entering the mosque on Saturdays. The activists describe the current restrictions as unjustified and discriminatory and seek a temporary order to permit entry during the Jewish weekly holiday.
The report also highlighted a recent police experiment, coordinated with the Israeli General Security Service (Shin Bet), allowing a group of 15 Jews to enter the mosque with prayer books. Despite these allowances, the police maintain restrictions on religious symbols such as tallit and tefillin, as confirmed by the Jerusalem District Police Commander.
These developments occur amidst Palestinian warnings about Israeli measures that could alter the historical and legal status quo of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, potentially imposing new realities within its courtyards.