Israel allows Muslims to visit the Temple Mount – with restrictions

The Temple Mount is one of the most sensitive sites in Jerusalem – especially during the fasting month of Ramadan. Because of the war, there is great concern about riots. Israel’s government wants to grant Muslims access – with exceptions.

Deep in the Old City of Jerusalem, at the Cotton Merchants’ Gate, is an important entrance to the Temple Mount. It’s still pretty quiet this morning. But during Ramadan, tens of thousands of Muslim worshipers are expected every day at the site, known in Arabic as Al-Haram Ash-Sharif.

Israel captured the Old City of Jerusalem in 1967 and later annexed it. This has never been recognized under international law. The checkpoints between the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem and the entrances to the Temple Mount are controlled by the Israeli army and the border police.

Ben-Gvir wanted to deny access to Muslims from Israel

An older man who sells coffee and tea in an alley in front of the Temple Mount comments: “Ramadan is holy not only for me, but for all Muslims. Then my wife, I and my children go to the Al-Aqsa Mosque . There were restrictions before the war, but since then they have increased extremely.” All the checkpoints made it impossible for Palestinian believers to come, the man claims.

In fact, Israel largely sealed off the West Bank after the October 7 terrorist attacks. Israel’s right-wing extremist Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wanted to go one step further during Ramadan and also deny Muslims living in Israel access to the Temple Mount.

Prayers in Ramadan with restrictions possible

This in turn met with great rejection from Israel’s army and the domestic secret service. They feared that such a measure could not ensure more security, but rather even more pressure. Muslims from Israel should be able to pray in the Al-Aqsa Mosque during the month of fasting.

In the end, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu followed this line: “Israel’s policy has always been and always will be to secure religious freedom for all. We will make every effort to grant religious freedom on the Temple Mount while taking security into account.”

Muslims from the occupied West Bank should also be allowed to travel to Jerusalem. However, even stricter restrictions apply here than in the past. Traveling to Jerusalem is said to be taboo for boys and men between the ages of twelve and 70, citing security concerns.

Hamas threatens new violence

From a Palestinian perspective, the restrictions are unacceptable. Osama Hamdan is a senior representative of Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the EU. He does not mention Israel by name and instead speaks of “occupied land”: “Our families in Jerusalem, the West Bank and the occupied country are called to travel to the Al-Aqsa Mosque from the first day of Ramadan. They should come in at any moment transform into a clash and confrontation with the enemy.”

USA wants ceasefire before Ramadan

Such aggressive rhetoric does not mean that violence on the Temple Mount is a foregone conclusion. Negotiations for a ceasefire continue between Israel and Hamas. According to the US government’s wishes, an agreement should be reached before the start of Ramadan. Israel and Hamas have not recently shown themselves to be particularly optimistic that this will work.

US President Joe Biden recently said on the sidelines of a plane trip: “If we get into a situation where things continue like this during Ramadan, it could be very dangerous. That’s why we’re trying very hard to achieve a ceasefire.”