During Ramadan
Israel grants Muslims access to the Temple Mount
March 5, 2024, 9:53 p.m
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Despite the tightened security situation, Muslims will again have access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem this year during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. However, Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasizes that the security situation will be reassessed weekly.
Israel’s government wants to allow Muslims to pray on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount during the fasting month of Ramadan. During the festival period, which is particularly sacred to them, Muslims will be granted access to the shrines similar to previous years, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced after a government meeting. However, the security situation will be assessed weekly in order to possibly make other decisions in light of the results.
Ramadan, which follows the moon, is expected to begin around March 10 this year. With the Gaza war raging for almost five months, tensions and conflicts between Israelis and predominantly Muslim Palestinians have continued to intensify.
Netanyahu’s right-wing extremist coalition partners had demanded massive restrictions on Muslims’ access to the Temple Mount during Ramadan. The army and secret services, however, strongly advised against this. Such restrictions could create an explosive situation, they argued.
The Temple Mount, also known as Haram al-Sharif, is sacred to both Jews and Muslims. With the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque on its plateau, it is considered Islam’s third most important holy site. It is of great importance to the Jews because their two temples stood on it, which were destroyed in ancient times. The Western Wall surrounding the Temple Mount is considered by Jews to be their most important place of worship.
Always access restrictions
The complex is located in Jerusalem’s Old City, which Israel conquered from Jordan in the Six-Day War in 1967. The Muslim shrines on the Temple Mount plateau are managed by a Jordanian foundation, but the Israeli security forces have controlled all entrances since 1967 and thus decide who can visit them and pray there.
Israel repeatedly imposes access restrictions during Ramadan. Last year, women, children under 12 and men over 55 had free access. Men between 45 and 55 years of age could pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque with a permit. Arab Knesset member Mansur Abbas welcomed the Israeli cabinet’s decision. On X, formerly Twitter, he called on his fellow Arab citizens to exercise their right to practice their religion while maintaining law and order.