The Israeli government has decided not to impose new restrictions on access to a key Jerusalem mosque during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, a move that could ease tensions in an area that has long been a hotspot for unrest.
At a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday night, security officials decided to allow a similar number of worshipers into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during Ramadan as in previous years, Mr. Netanyahu’s office said. The start of Ramadan is associated with the appearance of the new moon, which is expected to begin in a few days.
Israel has long restricted Palestinians from the Israeli-occupied West Bank from entering the compound, sacred to both Muslims and Jews, during Ramadan. This year, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called on the government to impose restrictions on Israel’s Arab citizens as well.
Tuesday’s decision ends the plan pushed by Mr Ben-Gwell but leaves some wiggle room. “Security and safety aspects will be assessed weekly; decisions will be taken accordingly,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.
Violent clashes often broke out in the mosque compound. Confrontations at the site led to an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas in May 2021.
As the holy month of Ramadan approaches and Israel’s war with Hamas enters its sixth month, concerns about escalation on the ground are growing. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that “it would be very dangerous” if a ceasefire was not reached during Ramadan.
Mansour Abbas, an Arab Israeli member of the Knesset, praised the decision. “I congratulate the Prime Minister for taking the responsible decision to allow Muslim worshipers at Al-Aqsa Mosque to worship freely,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
However, Mr Ben-Gweil expressed concern that the decision would undermine Israel’s efforts to destroy the militant group Hamas, which attacked Israel on October 7. “Hamas celebrations on the Temple Mount ≠ total victory,” he wrote on the X, using the name Jews use to refer to Al-Aqsa.
Hamas has previously condemned any Israeli restrictions on worship at Al-Aqsa Mosque. On Monday, Hamas leaders called on Palestinians to turn mosques into sites of confrontation.
Beirut-based Hamas leader Osama Hamdan told a conference of Muslim scholars via video that Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jerusalem should “turn every moment of Ramadan into a conflict with their enemies and Confrontation to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque”.
In Muslim tradition, the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven from the site of Al-Aqsa, a mosque visited by tens of thousands of Muslims every day during Ramadan. For Jews, the area is revered as the Temple Mount as it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times and remains central to Jewish identity today.
Matthew M’Poke Biggar Contributed reporting.