Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed his ministers to obtain his approval before visiting the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem, also known to Jews as the Temple Mount. This instruction was issued during a security cabinet meeting held yesterday.
Netanyahu’s office confirmed the directive, stating that ministers must seek permission through his military secretary before ascending the Temple Mount. This move follows a visit to the site earlier in the day by far-right lawmaker Yitzhak Kroizer MK, which raised concerns among security officials about potential escalations.
During the meeting, Netanyahu also reaffirmed that there will be no changes to the status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque, which has been in place since before Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967. Under this arrangement, the compound remains under the management of the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, linked to the Jordanian Ministry of Religious Endowments.
However, Israeli authorities altered this status in 2003 by allowing settlers to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque without the consent of the Islamic Waqf, which continues to demand an end to these incursions.
The announcement coincides with warnings from Ronen Bar, head of Israel’s Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, who cautioned Netanyahu last month that provocations by Jewish settlers and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound are causing “immeasurable harm” to Israel. Bar stressed that resolving the issue requires intervention from Israel’s leadership, not just the Shin Bet.
In response, Ben-Gvir’s office accused the Shin Bet chief of deflecting blame by targeting the minister. The far-right politician’s office reiterated that Jews have the right to pray at Al-Aqsa and even suggested constructing a synagogue at the site, which is the third holiest in Islam. This controversial statement marked the first time Ben-Gvir openly discussed such a move, despite his repeated calls in recent months to allow Jewish prayers at the mosque.