Live UpdateFrom the Liveblog of Sunday, April 9, 2023
Despite new hardline gov’t, Israel likely to maintain policy barring Jews from Temple Mount at Ramadan’s end

Security forces guard Jewish visitors at the Temple Mount during Passover, in Jerusalem's Old City, April 9, 2023. (Jamal Awad/Flash90)
Channel 12 reports that Israel is likely to maintain its longheld policy barring Jews from ascending the Temple Mount during the last 10 days of Ramadan, despite its new hardline government, which includes senior ministers who long campaigned on allowing Jewish prayer at the holy site.
There have been questions in recent days whether the policy would change, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir issued a statement yesterday saying he opposes closing the flashpoint site to Jews, as the security establishment recommends.
Channel 12 says Ben Gvir is still pushing to allow Jews to ascend the site for at least one of those last 10 days of Ramadan — this Wednesday, which will be the last day of Passover.