Shin Bet said to fear Jews may hold prayers at Temple Mount, fueling conflagration

17 October 2021, 8:10 pm

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Illustrative: An Israeli police officer stands guard as a religious Jew in army uniform visits the Temple Mount, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, in the Old City of Jerusalem on August 3, 2021. (AP Photo/ Maya Alleruzzo)

Officials in the Shin Bet agency are concerned about an “extreme scenario,” in which a group of Jews will try to hold an open prayer service at the Temple Mount, in violation of a ban on non-Muslim worship at the flashpoint Jerusalem holy site, the Walla news site reports.

According to the report, the Shin Bet representatives said during a meeting today on the Temple Mount that they fear such a scenario could lead to an outbreak of violence.

They also reportedly said that elements in the Arab world and Turkey are trying to exploit cases of individual Jews praying at the Temple Mount to stir up tensions there.

The report comes after Public Security Minister Omer Barlev issued a statement following the meeting that vowed the existing religious arrangements at the Temple Mount would be maintained.