Jewish worshippers gather at the Lions' Gate in Jerusalem as they attempt to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque, via MEE
Posted on 04/17/2025 7:12:29 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Israel allowed more than 1,000 Jewish worshippers to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday, with groups of up to 180 entering the Islamic holy site - the largest number ever permitted by the authorities.
They were seen entering the site, referred to as Temple Mount in Judaism, flanked by Israeli security services. The move marks a departure from Israel's previous policy of allowing no more than 30 Jewish Israelis at a time into the site, which was conquered by Israel in the 1967 war and is recognized as occupied territory internationally.
Jewish worshippers gather at the Lions' Gate in Jerusalem as they attempt to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque, via MEE
The Islamic Waqf, the organization that administers Al-Aqsa Mosque, told Middle East Eye that 1,200 Jewish Israelis entered on Wednesday. More than 4,000 have stormed the Muslim holy site since the Passover holiday began last weekend.
Israeli police said that "officers safeguarded visits to the Temple Mount in accordance with visitation regulations and group size limitations, which are determined by circumstances such as overall visitor numbers and the police's ability to ensure public safety and order".
Thousands of Jewish worshippers could be seen dancing and celebrating at the Lions' Gate entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem. Muslim worshippers were prevented from entering the mosque.
Aouni Bazbaz, director of international affairs at the Waqf, told MEE that the scenes on Wednesday - and in the previous days - had been unprecedented. "These are frightening scenes," he said.
Bazbaz added that the total of settlers who entered the site in 2003 stood at 258, while "the numbers have risen exponentially" today, with thousands making their way into the complex. "Today [as the Islamic Waqf], we will be dealing with something we have never ever dealt with before," he said.
A change in status quo?
The Chief Rabbinate of Jerusalem has long declared Jewish worship on Temple Mount forbidden unless worshippers are "ritually pure", which is believed impossible under modern conditions.
However, many Orthodox Jewish settlers oppose this stance, arguing that preventing them from worshipping there is discriminatory.
Israeli police allowed 180 settlers to pray inside Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, a move condemned by Palestinians as a serious breach of the status quo. pic.twitter.com/C7f6rDRVwV — Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) April 16, 2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously said that "the status quo on the Temple Mount has not changed and will not change", referring to a 1757 Ottoman decree reaffirming a ban on non-Muslims entering Al-Aqsa Mosque and granting Jews the right to pray at the Western Wall.
However, in recent years, visits by Jewish settlers to the site have become increasingly routine. Some Israeli government members, such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, have openly called for Jewish prayer to be permitted at Al-Aqsa Mosque. The far-right minister has even been filmed entering the complex on several occasions.
Some Israeli settlers have called for the construction of a Jewish temple modelled after two temples that once stood on the site - a move that some have said would necessitate the destruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of the three holiest sites in Islam.
The Temple Mount Administration, a far-right group advocating for the construction of a temple on the site, said on Tuesday that there had been "3,000 worshippers at the Temple Mount in the first three days of Passover".
⚡️JUST IN:
Today’s storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque for the fifth day by Israeli settlers was the largest since the occupation of Palestine.
Itamar Ben Gvir welcomed the performance of Talmudic rituals in Al-Aqsa’s courtyards, saying such events have not occurred there in 30 years, , and expressed pride in facilitating them.
pic.twitter.com/MxAjHA6sHa — Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) April 17, 2025
Bazbaz warned that the division of Al-Aqsa Mosque was increasingly becoming a reality. He compared it to the situation at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank, which has been divided into a mosque and a synagogue - both under Israeli control.
"Let's use the media phrase for what is happening: apartheid or segregation has become a historical and current reality on the ground," he said. Bazbaz added that the situation had worsened since the start of the war in Gaza, with Jewish religious practices on Al-Aqsa Mosque being encouraged and even backed by the authorities.
"What happened today was more of a move to cause outrage rather than for religious purposes," he said.
I’ve been. And prayed. With a guide.
Good move, Mr. Netanyahu.
Muslims covet Jerusalem and the Temple Mount only because God gave them to the Jews.
Mecca and Medina are far more important to their religion. Jerusalem is not mentioned in the Koran.
Surprising.
The Temple Mount is NOT the “Al-Aqsa Mosque Complex.” The mosque is off to the side, and small. The Dome of the Rock and it’s surrounding, empty area takes up most of the space. The Dome should remain but the mosque should be destroyed eventually
Misleading perspective in article. First, calling Israelis ‘settlers’. Second, misrepresenting what took place. Making it sound like taking over the mosque.
Still, I am waiting for the destruction of AlAqsa in context of current struggle. My opinion, after Jude’s and Samaria are cleaned up
They didn’t “storm” a mosque you fool. The mosque is a building built on one small part of the Temple Mount centuries after the Second Jewish Temple was destroyed by the Romans. When the Arabs controlled Jerusalem they destroyed every single synagogue and drove out the Jews. When the Jews recaptured it in 1967 they let the Arabs continue to pray in their mosque. Now the Jews go up on the Temple Mount to pray there.
Posting the lies you put up helps no one and reveals you for a liar. The Jews aren’t going anywhere - we’re in Jerusalem to stay. Deal with it.
It should be explained that Muslims refer to the whole area of the Temple Mount platform as ‘al Aqsa’. Others use al Aqsa to refer to the lead-domed mosque on the extreme south of the much larger Temple Mount platform.
Non-Muslims do not enter the mosque, or the Golden Dome shrine.
Went on the Temple Mount with a Christian tour. We were asked to not even appear like we were praying as all h3ll would break loose.
Yeah, I was kinda quiet about it. But still. I’m going next month, and me and my buddies ….
Don’t know if you’ve been. As for me....inspirational and helped open my eyes to history.
Incredible.
I’ve been to the wall and prayed. Left a note. Never been to the golden dome - other than the Chinese Restaurant we used to have nearby by the same name.
Well this non muslim entered both mosques. Shoes off but otherwise it was a tourist visit. Whatever authority allowed me and my group didn’t seem to object. Quite a while ago now (1996) so maybe things are different today.
Not allowed inside now, but it’s the Middle East so baksheesh could probably arrange it.
Why can’t an “errant” missile strike blow the golden whore house up during one of the muzzie launches on Israel. Seems like a great use and test of American submarine warfare, denied in public of course.
Should it be open to all?
What’s your opinion?
After the Arab conquest in 637 CE, Jews were initially allowed to return to Jerusalem under Umar, having been banned by the Byzantine Romans. There’s no evidence of widespread synagogue destruction at this time.
Under Fatimid rule (10th–11th centuries), Jews faced periods of persecution, including synagogue destruction. For example, Caliph Al-Hakim (early 11th century) ordered the destruction of some synagogues and churches, though this was not a universal policy and was tied to his erratic rule.
Under Mamluk rule (13th–16th centuries), Jewish life in Jerusalem faced restrictions, and some synagogues were closed or repurposed, but Jewish communities persisted. The Ottoman period (1517–1917) saw a revival of Jewish presence, with synagogues like the Hurva being built or restored.
the Arabs conquered Jerusalem with the help of Jews in the area -- yes, Jews remained even after the IIIrd Jewish-Roman war.
Israel won the Temple Mount fair and square in a war started by muslims. The world is not a one-way ratchet in favor of anti-Western-Civilization. When we win, we win for keeps, just like they assert over any land they ever set foot in. “Al Andalus” is not some fiction. Islam intends to own Spain again.
As to who the Temple Mount ought to be open to, that’s Israel’s choice. If they were to exclude muslims, that would likely start a theater wide shooting war. So maybe unwise. But entirely their decision.
Israeli politics are extremely complex. They have a largely healthy democracy (excepting their leftist deep state and self perpetuating minority leftist courts). I’ll leave it to them to choose how to manage the Temple Mount.
If it was only up to me, I’d burn Al Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock in pig fat, scrape Mount Moriah clean, and put up the Third Temple. But I’m not in charge.
:-)
Tear that stupid mosque down.
Be done with it.
L
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