Police warn against ‘terror groups’ spreading fake news regarding the Temple Mount

The Israel Police issues a somewhat rare English statement, saying recent days have brought “incitement to violence being spread on social media, combined with many false publications about the Temple Mount, in order to stir up the area and incite violence and disorder.”

“These publications are distributed, among other things, by terror organizations that try to exploit the Temple Mount and young people for their own personal gain,” police say.

The police do not specify which reports they’re referring to, but Israel has been regularly pushing back against claims in recent months that it is trying to change the status quo at the Temple Mount, where Muslims are allowed to pray whereas non-Muslims can only visit.

Tomorrow, the site is set to reopen to non-Muslim visitors for the first time in nearly two weeks, with Hamas warning that Jewish visits will be met with a response.