Govt., Security Officials Debate Who Will Enter Temple Mount During Ramadan

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The coming month of Ramadan, correspending to Adar Bet in the Jewish calendar, presents a new headache for Israeli government and security officials , who will have to determine who will be allowed into Jerusalem and permitted to ascend to Temple Mount.

Former Police Commissioner Omer Bar-Lev referred Sunday to the issue and stated that Hamas supporters will likely raise Hamas flags on Temple Mount. Bar Lev said that “this is irritating and angering, but not to contain such expressions is a recipe for ‘mutual slaughter’ and harming of tens of Palestinian worshipers and police. Sometimes its better to be wise than being right.”

Currently there are conflicting views about who will be allowed to enter the Mount. Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir refuses to allow any Arabs from Judea and Samaria to worship on the Mount and would allow only Israeli Arabs over 70 to ascend there.The police would allow 60+year-olds from Judea and Samaria to worship and Israeli Arabs over 45, while the Shin Bet maintains that 45-year-olds from Judea and Samaria should be allowed in and Israeli Arabs should not have any restrictions on worship.

Ben-Gvir claims that if the security force’s position will be accepted, tens of thousands will wave Hamas flags on Temple Mount and call for terrorist activity. The attack on Friday, which was perpetrated by and East Jerusalem Arab, raised concerns that Hamas is trying to whip up terrorist elements in Israel who could carry out attacks before and during the Ramadan period.

The government is set to discuss the issue on Monday.