Variation in Israeli proposals regarding the ages of Palestinian worshipers allowed to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque (Anatolia)
Internal Israeli disputes regarding the position on the entry of Muslim worshipers from the occupied West Bank into the Holy Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan have come to light.
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation said, "The police proposed deploying a permanent force in Al-Aqsa Mosque Square during the month of Ramadan, with the aim of immediately dealing with what it described as 'incitement campaigns', or raising the flags of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that the proposal was not accepted by the Israeli Internal Security Agency (Shin Bet), which recommended that worshipers enter without restrictions, for fear of escalation in occupied East Jerusalem.
This comes after the Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, called on Friday for a complete ban on the entry of Palestinians from the West Bank into the Temple Mount during the month of Ramadan, while Arab citizens are allowed to enter starting at the age of 70.
On the other hand, the police position indicates “allowing entry to the Jewish community starting at the age of 60, and from the age of 45 for Arab citizens.”
The Shin Bet’s position indicates that entry is allowed from the age of 45, with no restrictions on Arab citizens. Israeli media reported that the security establishment warned that Ben Gvir's policy would lead to provoking sectors that are already under control.
Today, Sunday, the Israeli government is scheduled to discuss the security policy for the entry of Palestinians from the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem into Al-Aqsa Mosque during the month of Ramadan. Israeli Channel 12 quoted sources yesterday as saying that a political battle was taking place behind the scenes before the security policy in this regard was discussed.
Since the beginning of the devastating Israeli war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, Israel has greatly limited Palestinian access to Al-Aqsa Mosque in parallel with the escalation of incursions carried out by its forces in the West Bank.
About 25,000 Palestinians performed Friday prayers in Al-Aqsa Mosque the day before yesterday, which is the largest number of worshipers the mosque has witnessed since the beginning of the war.
Source: Al Jazeera + agencies