Mt Moriah and the "Dome of the Rock", a holy site to Christians and Jews, given to the Arabs / Envato Market
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – Israeli police announced Monday they will deploy heavily around the Temple Mount compound throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, as Palestinian officials accused Israel of imposing new restrictions at the sensitive Jerusalem site.
Ramadan, set to begin Wednesday evening, traditionally draws hundreds of thousands of Muslim worshippers to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third-holiest site. The compound, located in East Jerusalem, is known to Jews as the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism and the location of the ancient Jewish temples.
Senior Jerusalem police officer Arad Braverman said forces would be deployed “day and night” across the compound and surrounding areas, with thousands of officers on duty for Friday prayers, which typically see the largest crowds. Police have recommended issuing 10,000 entry permits for West Bank Palestinians, who require special authorization to enter Jerusalem.
However, the Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate said it was informed that permits would again be limited to men over 55 and women over 50 — mirroring restrictions implemented last year. The Islamic Waqf, the Jordanian-run authority administering the site, said Israeli authorities also blocked routine Ramadan preparations, including the installation of shade structures and temporary medical clinics. A Waqf source added that 33 staff members had been barred from entering the compound in the week before Ramadan.
The Temple Mount has long been a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hamas named its October 7, 2023, massacre in southern Israel the “Al-Aqsa Flood,” seeking to ignite broader unrest centered on the Jerusalem holy site. Under arrangements dating back to Israel’s capture of the Old City in 1967, Jews may visit the compound but are not permitted to pray there — a status quo that Israeli authorities say remains unchanged, though the policy has been increasingly challenged by Jewish activists and political figures.
Separately, the Israeli military announced it has launched a operation in Judea and Samaria ahead of Ramadan aimed at arresting individuals accused of promoting incitement and terrorism on social media. “Ramadan is a month of family, community and unity,” said Lt. Col. Ella Waweya, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokeswoman. “Do not allow terror organizations to ruin it.”
Meanwhile, Border Police forces closed a road in East Jerusalem and confiscated surveillance cameras allegedly used to monitor Israeli troop movements and facilitate unauthorized crossings. Police said the measures are part of a broader effort to prevent infiltration and strengthen security during the volatile holiday period.
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