From the Liveblog of
Sunday, April 9, 2023
Police decide not to enter Al-Aqsa mosque, Jewish visitors start to arrive on Temple Mount
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According to reports, police decide not to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and begin to allow Jewish visitors onto the flashpoint Temple Mount site after the conclusion of dawn prayers.
The Jewish visitors are under police guard as they enter the compound in groups of around 20. Some Muslim worshippers at the site shout at the Jewish visitors, but there are no reports of violence.
The Temple Mount, known to Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif, is the holiest site for Jews and the third-holiest shrine in Islam.
Israel has vowed repeatedly to maintain the status quo at the site, whereby Jews are allowed to visit there — under numerous restrictions and only during limited hours — but not pray. However, Jews have increasingly been allowed to quietly pray there, while Palestinians have instigated violence at the site and unilaterally designated more parts of the site for prayer.
Israel, as in previous years, is reportedly set to bar Jews from entering the Temple Mount holy site during the last 10 days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
בתקשורת הפלסטינית מעלים תיעוד מעליית היהודים, בליווי אבטחה של כוחות משטרה. ברקע נשמעות לעברם קריאות ״אללה אכבר״@GLZRadio pic.twitter.com/zpQxfrwgA7
— נועה ברנס Noa Baranes (@noabaranes10) April 9, 2023
The Times of Israel Community.