PM Netanyahu of Israel Ignores Firebrand Minister’s Demand, Says There Will Be No Restrictions on Al-Aqsa Mosque During Ramadan

On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that there would be no more limitations on the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa Mosque’s accessibility for worshipers during the month of Ramadan. He said that while the decision to let worshipers inside the enclosure would be reevaluated every week, entry would be allowed during the first week of Ramadan.

Israel has always maintained, and will continue to preserve, the freedom of all faiths to worship at Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa Mosque. We will continue to behave in this manner as we have for the whole month of Ramadan. All Muslims are welcome to enjoy the holiday, and we’ll do all in our power to protect their right to freedom of religion while also meeting their demands for safety and security,” he said.

Following the news, Itamar Ben-Gvir, the fiery right-wing politician and Israeli minister of national security, took a swipe at his boss. It is evident from this that Netanyahu and the war cabinet believe nothing occurred on October 7. Ben-Gvir said, “This decision might give Hamas an appearance of success and put Israel’s civilians at risk. He had called for restricting the number of people who may enter the Temple Mount/Al Aqsa mosque complex.

According to a report by the Israeli news outlet Haaretz, Ben-Gvir’s viewpoint was not shared by the Israeli security service Shin Bet. The prime minister “made a balanced decision that allows freedom of religion with necessary security limits, which have been set by professional officials,” according to a statement released later by Netanyahu’s office in response to the claims.

In recent years, there has been an uptick in clashes between Israelis and Palestinian Muslims at the Temple Mount/Al Aqsa mosque site. It should be mentioned that, for the first time in a number of years, Passover, Israel Independence Day, and other Jewish festivals fell within the month of Ramadan in the last two years.

According to a report by the news agency Haaretz, Israel has used measures in the past to prevent worshippers from entering the Temple Mount/Al Aqsa mosque complex during Ramadan in the event that fighting breaks out or if the month falls on a Jewish holiday.

There has been a status quo agreement between Israel, the Palestinians, and Jordan since the 1967 war that forbids non-Muslim worship there and permits non-Muslim visitors during certain hours. Jerusalem’s sacred sites for Muslims and Christians are under the guardianship of Jordan.

MK Mansour Abbas, head of the United Arab List, applauded Netanyahu’s action. “Exercise their right to worship and observe the holiday in the coming month, while abiding by the law and maintaining public order,” he advised the Arab population in Israel.

“We shouldn’t put ourselves in danger by taking this chance.” We will let Hamas celebrate its triumph on the Temple Mount, and it is improbable that [Israeli] women and children are being held captive in Gaza,” Ben-Gvir said. Note that one of the justifications given by Hamas for the October 7 bombings was the purported attacks on Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa mosque during the 2023 Ramadan celebrations.