Police Grant Unprecedented Access for Jewish Prayer Sheets
In a fundamental shift from decade-long enforcement practices, Israeli police have officially begun permitting activist groups to bring written Jewish prayer sheets into the holy compound. Historically, the post-1967 status quo strictly mandated that while non-Muslims are permitted to visit, only Muslims are allowed to pray on the grounds. Activist groups have mobilized this policy shift to establish open, daily prayer quorums (minyanim) along the eastern perimeter of the complex, signaling a rapid erosion of the traditional ban on non-Islamic worship.
National Security Minister Ben-Gvir Claims “Deterrence” at the Site
Further straining the delicate arrangement, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, directly led thousands of ultranationalists into the compound during Jerusalem Day events. Ben-Gvir danced, displayed the Israeli flag in front of the Dome of the Rock, and publicly proclaimed that Israel had successfully “restored governance” over the site. Observers note that the Minister’s actions enjoy high-level political shielding, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly backing Ben-Gvir’s expanded directives behind the scenes despite international backlash.
Jordan Denounces Breach of Hashemite Custodianship
The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a scathing diplomatic rebuke, declaring the state-backed incursions a “flagrant violation of international law.” Under the 1994 Jordan-Israel peace treaty, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan retains official custodianship over Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites, managing them via the Islamic Waqf council. Amman warned that systematically paralyzing the Waqf’s administrative authority—including Israeli police blocking essential maintenance, vegetation removal, and structural gate repairs—threatens to ignite a severe regional religious conflict.
Right-Wing Legislation Targets the Muslim Call to Prayer
Amplifying the friction beyond the compound walls, a right-leaning Israeli ministerial committee has advanced a draft bill targeting the traditional Muslim call to prayer (Adhan). The proposed legislation would require mosques to obtain prior state authorization before utilizing outdoor loudspeakers, empowering security forces to confiscate sound equipment and levy steep fines. Palestinian leadership and human rights organizations have slammed the bill as an aggressive tool designed to alter the demographic and religious identity of East Jerusalem.
International Observers Condemn Restrictions on Christian Sites
The erosion of the status quo has expanded beyond Islamic landmarks, drawing sharp rebukes from Western leaders. During the spring holidays, Israeli security forces invoked wartime safety protocols to impose a multi-week lockdown on the Old City, severely restricting access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The European Union and international observers heavily criticized the military command for barring the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem from entering the church on Palm Sunday, calling the sweeping restrictions a “manifestly unreasonable” breach of historical religious freedom protections.