Israel ponders restricting access to one of Islam’s holiest sites for Ramadan

TEL AVIV, Israel – The Muslim holy month of Ramadan is all the time a interval of heightened tensions round Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, as lots of of 1000’s of worshipers line as much as enter one in every of Islam’s holiest websites to wish.

However a proposal for brand spanking new restrictions on worshipers getting into the location — additionally sacred to Jews as the muse of their historic temple — by Israel’s far-right nationwide safety minister has raised tensions at a time when Israel is waging a struggle in Gaza that has price tens of 1000’s of lives, following an assault by Hamas that was the deadliest since Israel’s founding.

And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not but dismissed the controversial plan proposed by Itamar Ben-Gvir to restrict entry to the mosque much more than in earlier years.

Ben-Gvir, who lives in a Jewish settlement within the occupied West Financial institution, mentioned on X, previously referred to as Twitter, that Israeli safety forces ought to forestall Palestinian residents from the occupied West Financial institution from getting into the Al-Aqsa Mosque, constructed on large stone platform in Jerusalem’s Outdated Metropolis and recognized to Muslims because the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews because the Temple Mount.

The plan would additionally prohibit Palestinians with Israeli citizenship under the age of 70 from visiting the location throughout Ramadan, which begins subsequent month.

Ben-Gvir, an ultra-nationalist member of Netanyahu’s cupboard, mentioned the restrictions had been crucial as a result of “we should always not permit residents from the [Palestinian] Authority to enter Israel in any approach.” Israel “can’t take probabilities and dangers.”

Netanyahu’s workplace advised NPR the prime minister is “contemplating Ben-Gvir’s opinion on inserting restrictions throughout Ramadan,” however added that “there are nonetheless no concrete plans.”

An earlier assertion launched by his workplace mentioned he had “made a balanced choice that permits for spiritual freedom inside the limits of the safety wants as established by heads of the safety institution.”

The prime minister’s workplace added a notice of warning, saying that “any reviews on the contrary are false.” That mirrored fears in Jerusalem that harsher restrictions might result in a spike in unrest at a extremely delicate time.

Israel is already underneath mounting worldwide stress to not push its Gaza offensive into the crowded southern metropolis of Rafah, the place greater than 1,000,000 Palestinians who’ve fled combating within the Gaza Strip have sought shelter.

The Gaza well being ministry mentioned this week that greater than 29,000 individuals have been killed because the begin of the struggle, triggered by an assault on Israel by Hamas on Oct. 7 that killed 1,200 individuals. One other 240 had been taken hostage.

Hamas remains to be holding 134 hostages and on Sunday, Israeli struggle cupboard member Benny Gantz issued an ultimatum to Hamas: launch all of the Israelis nonetheless captive in Gaza earlier than Ramadan or “the combating will proceed in every single place, to incorporate the Rafah space.”

A full-scale land invasion of Rafah can be a humanitarian catastrophe “past creativeness,” mentioned Dr. Teresa Zakaria, the World Well being Group’s incident supervisor for the battle within the occupied Palestinian territories.

For its half, the USA insists that Israel wants a reputable plan to evacuate the greater than 1,000,000 Palestinians in Rafah earlier than it launches an operation.

And within the West Financial institution, tensions have additionally been rising because the begin of the Israel-Hamas struggle in Gaza, with an escalation in assaults by armed Jewish settlers in opposition to Palestinians in current months. In Israel, there stays deep anger over Netanyahu’s response to the Oct. 7 assault by Hamas and his failure to carry house all the hostages.

Backlash to the plan

For worshipers like Rauf Abu Nab, the Ben-Gvir plan would lower off entry to the third holiest website on the earth for Muslims after Mecca and Medina. As a Jerusalem resident, he would ordinarily be capable to attend prayers on the mosque.

“He won’t be able to implement this. He’s destroying the entire picture of Israel,” mentioned Abu Nab, 65, as he drove out of Silwan, an East Jerusalem neighborhood that sits within the shadow of the Al-Aqsa compound.

“Nobody stands within the path of God,” he mentioned, earlier than driving off.

Israel has imposed restrictions on entry to the compound up to now, together with stopping vacationers and Jewish Israelis from getting into throughout Ramadan within the years earlier than 2000.

In 2022, restrictions had been imposed on most males over 40 from the West Financial institution, though Israeli safety forces allowed ladies and younger kids from the occupied West Financial institution to enter Jerusalem with out a allow.

Ben-Gvir’s newest proposals have prompted consternation in Jerusalem.

Mustafa Abu Sway, a member of the Al-Aqsa Mosque advisory council, mentioned it is disappointing to see the compound getting used as political software.

“It is a rallying level for proper and the correct of the correct of the correct [wing] when it comes to extremism. It is nationalism in a really twisted sense. It is a mosque, a Noble Sanctuary,” mentioned Abu Sway.

“Al Aqsa ought to have been spared the inner Israeli politics,” he added.

Abu Sway factors out that the Second Intifada — or rebellion — erupted within the aftermath of the September 2000 go to to the Al-Aqsa compound by Ariel Sharon, who on the time was operating for prime minister. Riots started the next day, beginning a interval of unrest that lasted 5 years. It was a marketing campaign tactic and it labored, mentioned Abu Sway, as Sharon was elected the next 12 months.

Officers from Shin Guess, Israel’s home intelligence service, declined a request for touch upon the nationwide safety minister’s proposals.

Hamas issued an announcement condemning the potential restrictions and referred to as on Palestinians to “reject this legal choice and go to Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

It additionally issued a warning: ought to the liberty to worship there be prohibited, “it is not going to move with out accountability.”

Ben-Gvir’s proposal has additionally introduced backlash from opposition members inside the Israeli authorities.

Knesset member Ahmad Tibi, chairman of the Hadash-Ta’al social gathering, mentioned Ben-Gvir and Netanyahu had been attempting to stir unrest amongst Palestinians. Labor Celebration Knesset member Gilad Kariv accused the prime minister of “placing the safety of the residents of Israel at risk” by courting far-right parts of his coalition.

Given the acutely tense state of affairs within the area, and with Israel warning of a brand new offensive in south Gaza throughout Ramadan, there are fears over any fallout from the brand new restrictions on the mosque.

“Prohibiting Muslims from praying at Al-Aqsa Mosque is absolutely what might instigate issues forward,” mentioned Abu Sway.

Abeer Zayyad, a historian, archeologist and knowledgeable on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, mentioned the restrictions are a part of a sample. She famous that earlier than 2000, vacationers and Jewish Israelis weren’t allowed into Al Aqsa throughout Ramadan. Then, they had been allowed in for the primary 10 days. Then the primary 20 days. And such attendance will increase the Israeli safety presence and raises fears amongst Muslims that the standing of the location is altering.

“However its not concerning the numbers. It is about the truth that they do not need us,” she mentioned.

She mentioned that if the Ben-Gvir plan is enacted, it might create “a harmful scenario.”

“I believe the entire world is apprehensive about that … I believe even Israelis themselves are apprehensive about that,” mentioned Zayyad.

“A uncooked, nuclear nerve”

Gershon Baskin, an Israeli social and political activist and former hostage negotiator, advised NPR that any transfer to additional restrict Palestinian entry to the Al-Aqsa compound would probably backfire.

He described Al-Aqsa as “a uncooked, nuclear nerve.”

“Anytime somebody touches it, it blows up in our face,” mentioned Baskin.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque – and all that the compound encompasses, together with the Dome of the Rock, believed by Muslims to mark the place the place the Prophet Mohammad ascended to heaven, is a “image of unity,” for Palestinians.

“It is the one place that each one Palestinians really feel like they’ve management,” mentioned Baskin.

And management is one thing Palestinians say they now lack in just about all parts of their lives – as Israeli safety restrictions have elevated within the aftermath of Oct. 7.

Zayyad mentioned she feared each step on this battle – even ones taken exterior Gaza – will “take us to a distinct stage and a distinct scenario.”

“None of us is aware of the place it will finish. It’ll be a really powerful 12 months in Jerusalem.”