Amid Security Fears, Muslim Access to the Temple Mount During Ramadan Will Be Limited

i24 News

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 As the month of Ramadan approaches, concerns over security have prompted Israeli authorities to implement limitations on Muslim access to the Temple Mount site, and Al-Aqusa Mosque.

The decision, made in accordance with recommendations from the Minister of National Security Ben Gvir, comes amidst opposition from the Minister of Defense Gallant, Shin Bet, and the army.

The restrictions include a cap on the number of individuals permitted to enter the site, with additional sorting based on age. While the details regarding the authorization of Palestinians from East Jerusalem are pending, the implementation of security measures proposed by Itamar Ben Gvir, which would allow security forces to intervene in response to provocative behavior, was rejected.

Under the current plan, only Muslim pilgrims aged 60 or above with permits issued by the Shin Bet will be granted access to the Temple Mount. However, domestic intelligence agencies have expressed reservations, fearing that such restrictions could exacerbate tensions and fuel Hamas’s rhetoric about Israel’s intentions to seize the site and deny Muslims access.

This sentiment was echoed by Walid Al-Huashla, an Arab MP from the Ra’am party, who condemned the decision as dangerous and racist. Al-Huashla warned of the potential consequences of the measures, accusing Prime Minister Netanyahu of capitulating to provocateurs and exacerbating tensions in Jerusalem.

Gallant: 30 UNRWA employees participated in Oct. 7 massacre

ANDREW BERNARD

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Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant speaks with Israeli soldiers at a staging area not far from the border with the Gaza Strip, Oct. 19, 2023. Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90.

Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defense minister, told journalists that the Jewish state has intelligence showing that 30 employees of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) took part in Hamas’s Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel.

The minister shared the names and photos of 12 UNRWA employees, whom Israel had previously said took part in the Oct. 7 attack, in the press briefing. The 12 include Faisal al-Naami, an UNRWA social worker who Israel says was visually identified in Israeli territory on Oct. 7 and was involved in kidnapping a soldier from the town of Be’eri.

Another, Ala Jouda, is an UNRWA Arabic religion teacher who is also a company commander in Hamas’s Nuseirat Battalion. He was arrested in Israeli territory.

According to Gallant, 1,468 of UNRWA’s 13,000 staff members in Gaza are members of Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Israel first reported in January that 12 UNRWA employees had taken part in the Oct. 7 attacks. That prompted 15 countries, including the United States, to announce that they were cutting off funding to the aid agency.

In response to the allegations, the United Nations launched an independent “review group” to assess whether UNRWA is maintaining its neutrality and responding appropriately to alleged breaches of that neutrality.

UNRWA critics told JNS that the panel, which includes organizations that praised South Africa’s claim that Israel is committing genocide, is inadequate to fix the problems with UNRWA.

“This is a farce, a desperate scheme to save UNRWA,” said Rich Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, who studies international organizations.

“The United Nations does not recognize Hamas or Islamic Jihad as terrorist organizations, and this secretary-general has proven himself biased against Israel,” Goldberg told JNS. “UNRWA’s time has come to an end. The only reform that will protect U.S. taxpayers is ending UNRWA.”

‘No Reward for The Murderers’: Israeli Officials Bash US Plan To Recognize Palestinian State

Troy O. Fritzhand

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich / (Ynet screenshot; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

A chorus of Israeli officials spoke out against a reported peace plan being pushed by the United States and several Arab states that would include the recognition of a Palestinian state on Thursday.

The proposed plan, as detailed in The Washington Post, calls for “the withdrawal of many, if not all, settler communities on the West Bank; a Palestinian capital in east Jerusalem; the reconstruction of Gaza; and security and governance arrangements for a combined West Bank and Gaza.”

In order to attempt to force Israel’s hand, the report says, “U.S. officials said the menu of actions under consideration include early U.S. recognition of a Palestinian state — even as elements of political reform, security guarantees for both Israel and the Palestinians, normalization and reconstruction are being implemented.”

“In my speech yesterday in Berlin, I warned against the dangerous plan that is taking shape for unilateral international recognition of a Palestinian state,” said MK Gideon Sa’ar, who is not part of the government coalition – but part of the war cabinet coalition – National Unity. “This plan will not only not resolve the conflict but will make it intractable. The Palestinians will receive state recognition without paying the the price of compromise and they will continue the conflict from an upgraded position that will harm Israel’s right to self-defense.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been clear that he is opposed to a Palestinian state, and that Israel will maintain security control over the Gaza Strip once the war ends.

“1,400 murdered and the world wants to give them a state. It won’t happen,” tweeted National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. He added in an interview with Israeli media “The intention of the US, together with the Arab states, to establish a terror state alongside the State of Israel is delusional and part of the misguided conception that there is a partner for peace on the other side… While we are in the government, no Palestinian state will be established.”

Education Minister Yoav Kisch added “We are only concerned with winning in Gaza. There will simply be no reward for the murderers.”

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also tweeted against the plan, saying “We will in no way agree to this plan, which actually says that the Palestinians deserve a reward for the terrible massacre they did to us: a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. The message is that it pays very well to massacre Israeli citizens. A Palestinian state is an existential threat to the State of Israel as was proven on October 7, Kfar Saba will not be Kfar Aza!”

He further called on the cabinet to issue “a clear and unequivocal decision stating that Israel opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state and the imposition of sanctions on over half a million settlers. I expect clear support from Prime Minister Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Gadi Eisenkot and all the ministers.”

Two Israelis killed, four wounded in terror shooting in south

Jns Update Desk

A civilian shot and killed the assailant.

Security forces at the scene of a terrorist shooting at the Re’em Masmiya Junction near Kiryat Malachi in southern Israel, Feb. 16, 2024. Credit: Magen David Adom.

Two Israelis were killed and four others wounded on Friday afternoon when a terrorist opened fire at a bus stop near the Re’em Masmiya Junction, near Kiryat Malachi in the northern Negev, according to medical officials.

Magen David Adom paramedics attempted to resuscitate a man in his 20s in critical condition, who was later declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.

A teenaged boy, a man in his 20s and a man in his 60s were seriously injured. Two others, including an elderly woman, were moderately hurt.

It was not immediately unclear which of these victims succumbed to their injuries.

They were being treated either at Assuta Ashdod Hospital or Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot.

Police said the terrorist arrived in a vehicle and opened fire on people waiting for the bus. He was eventually shot and killed by a civilian at the scene.

Israeli media identified the assailant as an Arab from Shuafat in the eastern part of Jerusalem.

A large police force was conducting sweeps to ensure no other terrorists were involved in the attack.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Israel Police chief Kobi Shabtai visited the scene.

On Tuesday, Israeli forces thwarted an attempted vehicular assault in Gush Etzion.

The driver, a Palestinian, tried to run over civilians at the Gush Etzion Junction, located south of Bethlehem about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Jerusalem, the Israel Defense Forces said.

IDF forces neutralized the assailant following a pursuit. He was subsequently arrested and taken to hospital for treatment.

There were no other injuries in the attack.

A knife was found during a search of the terrorist’s vehicle.

On Sunday, an Israeli police officer was lightly wounded in a stabbing at the Lion’s Gate entrance to Jerusalem’s Old City.

The assailant was neutralized by Israeli security forces on the scene.

Also on Sunday night, a Palestinian terrorist attempted to stab Israel Defense Forces soldiers at the Hussan Junction near the ultra-Orthodox city of Beitar Illit in Judea.

No casualties were reported in the incident and the terrorist was neutralized, the IDF said.

TV7 Israel News

TV7 Israel News