Ben Gvir pushing to bar Palestinians from Temple Mount during Ramadan — report

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is pushing for a ban on Palestinians visiting the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa compound during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins around March 10, Channel 12 reports.

As minister in charge of the police, Ben Gvir does have some authority over the policy at the Temple Mount, though, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has overruled him in the past.

Israel typically allows Palestinians from the West Bank to visit the Temple Mount during Ramadan, and the entire security establishment backs maintaining this policy next month for Palestinians above the age of 45.

Ben Gvir is even at odds with the police, which says it is okay with Palestinians above the age of 60 being allowed to pray at the Temple Mount, according to Channel 12.

The hardline minister, who has caused massive diplomatic uproar for his own visits to the Temple Mount, is even pushing for banning Arab Israeli citizens below the age of 70 from visiting the site. It’s not clear what legal authority he would have to institute such a policy. The police supports allowing Arab Israelis above the age of 45, while the Shin Bet says that there should be no limitations on Arab Israeli worshippers.

Netanyahu is slated to hold a meeting with Ben Gvir and the war cabinet on Sunday to discuss the issue further.

Last week, a US official and an Israeli official told The Times of Israel that the Biden administration is highly concerned that Ben Gvir will try and spark tensions at the Temple Mount during Ramadan next month, in what Washington fears could drag the flashpoint issue of Jerusalem into the ongoing Middle East conflict that it’s seeking to contain.