Israeli police allow entry of Jewish prayer books to Al-Aqsa Mosque

SadaNews - The Israeli police allowed Jewish settlers, who stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque for the first time today, Wednesday, to bring in "prayer pages", a book containing all Jewish prayers, in a continuous violation of the existing status quo that prohibits Jewish prayers at the mosque.

This permission by the police for the entry of these Jewish religious books comes two weeks after the appointment of police officer Avshalom Bild, a close associate of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, as commander of the Jerusalem region in the police, continuing the imposition of Ben Gvir’s agenda for Jewish prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

A group of Jews stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque today, carrying what is described as a "guidance paper for those ascending to the Temple Mount", issued by the religious institute "Temple Mount," whose leaders are considered close to Ben Gvir, according to the website of the newspaper "Haaretz".

The police announced that the settlers storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque must use the "prayer papers" prepared by the religious institute only, which are distributed before their intrusion into the mosque.

The newspaper quoted the head of the religious institute, Elisha Wolfson, as saying that he hopes the second phase will involve the entry of prayer books, religious books, and tools for Jewish prayer in the near weeks.

The existing situation in the Al-Aqsa Mosque is based on a decision by the Israeli government following the occupation of Jerusalem in 1967, which stipulates that the Al-Aqsa Mosque is a place of worship for Muslims and a visitation site for non-Muslims. The Israeli police have banned Jews from praying there or bringing Jewish prayer tools into the mosque, as well as chanting or practicing Jewish traditions.

Since Ben Gvir took office as Minister of National Security, the police have begun to violate the status quo, allowing Jews to pray, sing, and prostrate in the mosque courtyards each time they invaded the mosque. Recently, the police also permitted another breach of the status quo, represented by Torah lessons.

Before Bild's term began two weeks ago, Wolfson stated, "We want to be a free people in our land, without restrictions on the Temple Mount, and to walk freely. If I had sung here six months ago as I do now, I would have been arrested; today, this has the approval of the political level and Minister Ben Gvir. We have expectations from the new police chief to implement Minister Ben Gvir's policy that we be here on the Temple Mount freely."

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has claimed several times in recent years, following American pressures after confrontations between Jerusalemites and the police regarding violations at the mosque, that the existing status quo is in effect. Netanyahu reiterated his claims after the clear violations by Ben Gvir, stating that he coordinated this with Ben Gvir after Jewish groups prayed publicly at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.