The Media Line: Israeli PM Restricts Minister Visits to Temple Mount After Far-Right Entry

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed ministers to seek approval for any visits to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount following a visit by MK Yitzhak Kroizer from the far-right Otzma Yehudit party and subsequent warnings from security officials of a potential escalation in violence. Netanyahu’s directive came amid concerns that recent changes, including allowing Jewish prayer at the site, could inflame tensions.

Security chiefs warned that any further disruption at the Temple Mount, considered sacred in both Judaism and Islam, could lead to increased violence in the West Bank and Jerusalem, especially as Jewish visits surge ahead of the High Holidays. Netanyahu insisted there has been no official change to the longstanding status quo, even as evidence of a shift has emerged, including overt Jewish prayers and increased visits.

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid and President Isaac Herzog both stressed the importance of maintaining the site’s status quo to avoid a broader conflict, with Herzog reiterating Israel’s commitment to agreements and rabbinic rulings. The issue has drawn further attention as Hamas and other groups cite the Temple Mount in their anti-Israel rhetoric, with potential repercussions on multiple fronts, including Gaza and tensions with Iran.