Israeli police are beefing up troops around al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan and allowing only limited entry to Palestinians. Tensions are growing in Jerusalem, the Wakf Foundation is also criticizing the restrictions.
Israeli police announced Monday that they will deploy reinforced troops around Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which begins this week. Palestinian officials accused Israel of imposing restrictions on the grounds of this mosque. TASR informs about it according to the report of the AFP agency.
- Israel is stepping up security measures at al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan.
- The Palestinians accuse Israel of introducing new restrictions.
- Only Palestinians with a permit will be allowed into the mosque.
- The Wakf Foundation’s preparations are hampered by Israeli restrictions.
Arad Braverman of the Jerusalem police said that troops should be deployed in the compound “day and night”. Thousands of police officers will be called to duty during Friday prayers. During the month of Ramadan, thousands of Palestinians attend prayers at the al-Aqsa Mosque, located in East Jerusalem. It is the third holiest site in Islam and a symbol of Palestinian national identity. But at the same time, it is the holiest place in Judaism, although Jews are forbidden to pray there.
Israel considers all of Jerusalem, including the annexed eastern part, to be its indivisible capital. However, the international community does not recognize this and the Palestinians want East Jerusalem to become the capital of their future state.
They recommended permissions
Braverman says police have recommended issuing 10,000 permits for Palestinians from the occupied West Bank who need a special permit to enter Jerusalem. He did not say whether age restrictions would apply. The final number of persons will be determined by the Israeli government. Palestinian officials in Jerusalem said in a statement that they had been informed that, as last year, men over 55 and women over 50 could participate in the prayers.
According to them, Israeli officials are preventing the Wakf Foundation – a Jordanian-administered Islamic foundation that manages religious buildings on and outside the Temple Mount in Jerusalem – from carrying out routine preparations, including the installation of sunshades and the establishment of temporary health clinics.
A source of the aforementioned foundation confirmed these restrictions and stated that 33 of its employees were not allowed to enter the mosque premises a week before the start of Ramadan. AFP reports that in recent years, several Israeli officials, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, have opposed long-term agreements under which Jews can visit the compound but are not allowed to pray there. Israel says it is committed to this status quo, although the Palestinians fear it is gradually eroding.
