Jewish guests stroll protected by Israeli safety forces on the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, often known as the Temple Mount advanced to Jews, in Jerusalem on April 9, 2023, throughout the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, additionally coinciding with the Jewish Passover vacation.

Ahmad Gharabli/AFP by way of Getty Images

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Ahmad Gharabli/AFP by way of Getty Images

Jewish guests stroll protected by Israeli safety forces on the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, often known as the Temple Mount advanced to Jews, in Jerusalem on April 9, 2023, throughout the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, additionally coinciding with the Jewish Passover vacation.

Ahmad Gharabli/AFP by way of Getty Images

TEL AVIV, Israel – The Muslim holy month of Ramadan is at all times a interval of heightened tensions round Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, as tons of of hundreds of worshipers line as much as enter considered one of Islam’s holiest websites to wish.

But a proposal for brand new restrictions on worshipers coming 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 conflict in Gaza that has value tens of hundreds 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 Bank, mentioned on X, previously often known as Twitter, that Israeli safety forces ought to forestall Palestinian residents from the occupied West Bank from coming into the Al-Aqsa Mosque, constructed on big stone platform in Jerusalem’s Old City and identified 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 have been vital as a result of “we should not allow residents from the [Palestinian] Authority to enter Israel in any way.” Israel “cannot take chances and risks.”

Netanyahu’s workplace instructed NPR the prime minister is “considering Ben-Gvir’s opinion on placing restrictions during Ramadan,” however added that “there are still no concrete plans.”

An earlier assertion launched by his workplace mentioned he had “made a balanced decision that allows for religious freedom within the limits of the security needs as established by heads of the security establishment.”

The prime minister’s workplace added a notice of warning, saying that “any reports to 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 below mounting worldwide strain to not push its Gaza offensive into the crowded southern metropolis of Rafah, the place greater than 1,000,000 Palestinians who’ve fled preventing within the Gaza Strip have sought shelter.

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

Hamas continues to be holding 134 hostages and on Sunday, Israeli conflict cupboard member Benny Gantz issued an ultimatum to Hamas: launch all of the Israelis nonetheless captive in Gaza earlier than Ramadan or “the fighting will continue everywhere, to include the Rafah area.”

A full-scale land invasion of Rafah can be a humanitarian catastrophe “beyond imagination,” said Dr. Teresa Zakaria, the World Health Organization’s incident supervisor for the battle within the occupied Palestinian territories.

For its half, the United States 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 Bank, tensions have additionally been rising because the begin of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, with an escalation in attacks by armed Jewish settlers in opposition to Palestinians in latest months. In Israel, there stays deep anger over Netanyahu’s response to the Oct. 7 assault by Hamas and his failure to deliver dwelling the entire 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 have the ability to attend prayers on the mosque.

“He will not be able to implement this. He is destroying the whole image 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.

“No one stands in the path of God,” he mentioned, earlier than driving off.

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

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

Ben-Gvir’s newest proposals have precipitated 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 instrument.

“It’s a rallying point for right and the right of the right of the right [wing] in terms of extremism. It’s nationalism in a very twisted sense. It’s a mosque, a Noble Sanctuary,” mentioned Abu Sway.

“Al Aqsa should have been spared the internal 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 working 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 yr.

Officials from Shin Bet, 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 known as on Palestinians to “reject this criminal decision and go to Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

It additionally issued a warning: ought to the liberty to worship there be prohibited, “it will not pass without accountability.”

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

Knesset member Ahmad Tibi, chairman of the Hadash-Ta’al get together, mentioned Ben-Gvir and Netanyahu have been attempting to stir unrest amongst Palestinians. Labor Party Knesset member Gilad Kariv accused the prime minister of “putting the security of the citizens of Israel in danger” by courting far-right components 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 really what could instigate problems ahead,” 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 have 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.

“But its not about the numbers. It’s about the fact that they don’t want us,” she mentioned.

She mentioned that if the Ben-Gvir plan is enacted, it would create “a dangerous situation.”

“I think the whole world is worried about that … I think even Israelis themselves are worried about that,” mentioned Zayyad.

“A raw, nuclear nerve”

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

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

“Anytime someone 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 “symbol of unity,” for Palestinians.

“It’s the one place that all Palestinians feel like they have control,” mentioned Baskin.

And management is one thing Palestinians say they now lack in nearly all components 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 outdoors Gaza – will “take us to a different level and a different situation.”

“None of us knows where this will end. It’s going to be a very tough year in Jerusalem.”