Netanyahu warned not to limit access to Al Aqsa Mosque as Ramadan draws near

Politicians in Israel and Jordan have warned the Israeli government not to go through with a reported plan to impose strict limits on worship at Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan.

On Sunday, Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was preparing to implement severe restrictions on Muslims’ access to Al Aqsa, proposed by farright National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

“Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir are aware of how sensitive Al Aqsa is in the Middle East. They are trying to burn things to the ground to stay in power,” Arab Israeli political leader Sami Abu Shehadeh told The National yesterday.

“All Israeli decision-making since October 7 has been irrational. Logically, it is really easy to prevent violence over Ramadan. Just allow people to pray.”

Mr Ben-Gvir is reportedly proposing to allow only those aged 60 and above to access the mosque, reviving a policy that was put in place after the October 7 Hamas attacks, and later relaxed.

In response to the reports, Mr Netanyahu’s office issued a statement promising a “balanced decision that allows freedom of religion with necessary security limits, which have been set by professional officials”.

Palestinians from the West Bank are already banned from entering Israel and Jerusalem.

However, Mr Ben-Gvir’s reported plans would also prevent large numbers of Arab Israelis and Palestinian residents of Jerusalem from praying at Al Aqsa.

Abdulazim Salhab, head of the Jerusalem Endowments Council, a division of the Jordanian government, warned of the possibility of “the situation exploding” if Israel implements the restrictions.

“It is the right of every Muslim to come and pray in the holy Al Aqsa Mosque,” Mr Salhab said.

“Security cannot be an excuse. Putting age restrictions is totally rejected.”

Israeli policy towards Al Aqsa Mosque frequently results in clashes with Palestinians.

Hamas, the militant group that rules the Gaza Strip, refers to its deadly October 7 attacks as Operation Al Aqsa Flood.

Israeli Labour Party leader Merav Michaeli told The National that such restrictions would significantly escalate tensions, leading to a “religious war”.

“Instead of building a better future here, we are ruining not only our present, but also the longer-term prospects,” Ms Michaeli said.

“My worry is that things will escalate, and I cannot defend my government in that sense at all. Nor can I defend those who are escalating and inciting on the other side. Unfortunately, extremists on both sides are doing very well together.”

Mr Abu Shehadeh said Mr Ben-Gvir’s reported proposal is part of a deliberate attempt to impose total Israeli control over Jerusalem.

“They want to tell Palestinians, Jordan and the Islamic world that Israel is the sovereign power in occupied East Jerusalem,” he said.

“With such a mentality, things can easily explode in Jerusalem and all over. As a Palestinian leader, I can tell you we are tired of war. We pray this war will be the last for us. The current extreme fascist Israeli government sees otherwise.”

Mr Salhab also described the plans as “aggression against the Hashemite custodianship”.

This comes as the US continues to hold discussions with its Middle Eastern allies about the prospects of resuming Palestinian-Israeli peace talks after the Gaza war.

Should talks resume, one of the central issues would be Al Aqsa Mosque, which was captured by Israel from Jordan in 1967, together with the rest of East Jerusalem.

Jordan’s Hashemite royal family claims custodianship over Al Aqsa Mosque and other holy sites in the area.

The claim dates back to 1924, when King Abdullah’s great grandfather, Sharif Hussein bin Ali, was granted custodianship over Al Aqsa by Palestinian religious leaders for his efforts to raise funds to renovate the shrine.

The 1994 Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty does not mention custodianship, but says that “Israel respects the present special role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Muslim Holy shrines in Jerusalem”.

“When negotiations on the permanent status will take place, Israel will give high priority to the Jordanian historic role in these shrines,” the treaty reads.

In May 2021, violence at Al Aqsa led to an 11-day war between Hamas and Israel. Israeli extremists have continued to enter the mosque, prompting sporadic clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians.

Mr Ben-Gvir has entered the compound three times in his ministerial career, drawing widespread international condemnation.

Israeli policy towards Al Aqsa frequently results in violent clashes, such as an 11-day war with Hamas in 2021