Posted on 03/05/24
| News Source: JPost
There will be no initial changes regarding entry to the Temple Mount during Ramadan, according to the decision of a security establishment meeting led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday.
The official decision of the meeting stated that during the first week of Ramadan, no new limitations would be placed, and the number of east Jerusalem and West Bank Muslims allowed into the Temple Mount will remain the same as previous years.
Every week after that, there will be an official situational assessment, and decisions to change the limitations will be made accordingly.
According to Israeli media reports, this model was recommended by the IDF and the Shin Bet.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the beginning of the meeting that Israel will do "everything" to ensure freedom of worship during Ramadan while also "maintaining security and safety needs."
"Israel's policy has always been and always will be to maintain the freedom of worship for all religions. Of course, we have done this during the Ramadan holiday in the past, and we will do it again now," he said.
"We will do everything to maintain the freedom of worship on the Temple Mount while appropriately maintaining security and safety needs, and we will allow the Muslim public to celebrate the holiday," he said.