An Israeli news station revealed that there are differences between the army and the police over the measures to be taken during the month of Ramadan to ensure calm.
On Tuesday, Israeli Channel 12 reported that Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett held talks with all the heads of the defense services on the issue of preparations and steps that Israel will take during the month of Ramadan.
However, "this discussion revealed a great disagreement between senior officers of the Israeli army and senior police officers."
She said senior military officials believe that in order to reduce tensions and prevent escalation, it should be easier for Palestinians during Ramadan, and those aged between 45 and 60 should be allowed to cross checkpoints and enter Al-Aqsa Mosque to pray, even if they do not have entry permits to Israel.
Israel prevents West Bank Palestinians under the age of 60 from entering East Jerusalem through Israeli checkpoints, unless they obtain special permits from the Israeli army.
It also prevents all residents of the Gaza Strip from reaching East Jerusalem, unless they obtain permits, which are rarely issued.
tightening restrictions
The Israeli channel said that senior police officers strongly oppose the army’s position, arguing that at this particular time, restrictions should be tightened, and anyone without a permit should be prevented from passing through the crossings, entering Jerusalem, and praying at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Israeli channel added that the leaders of the two organizations also differ on the issue of Palestinian minors entering occupied Jerusalem, so the army tends to facilitate and believe that these children up to the age of 14 should be allowed to cross checkpoints and enter Al-Aqsa Mosque, even if they do not have permits at all. On the other hand, Police claim that the age of minors should be limited to 12 years.
The Israeli channel indicated that the person who will resolve the dispute between the army and the police will most likely be Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who will listen to the position of the Shin Bet security service on the sensitive issue and then take the decision.
On the same level, the Israeli channel reported that Internal Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev is scheduled to go to Ramallah in the coming days to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, where the two sides are expected to discuss the issue of restrictions and tighten coordination before Ramadan.
An Israeli restrictions in the Bab Al-Amoud area and decisions to evacuate Palestinian families from its homes in Sheikh Jarrah, led to violent confrontations between Palestinians and the Israeli police, later extended to the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Arab regions in Israel.