Jewish visitors and tourists will be prohibited from entering the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem until the conclusion of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, according to a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Tuesday. In previous years, Israel has banned Jewish visits to the compound during the last 10 days of Ramadan.
The Wave of Unrest Continues
Israel ceased visits by Jews and tourists to the contentious Jerusalem holy site on Tuesday. The Israeli military reported that soldiers killed two Palestinian gunmen in the occupied West Bank, as ongoing unrest showed no signs of abating.
Reactions to the Ban
There was no immediate comment from Palestinian officials regarding the ban, which Israel has imposed in previous years. However, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Netanyahu’s far-right police minister, criticized the decision, stating that force should be used against terrorism rather than surrendering to its demands.
Escalating Israeli-Palestinian Violence
Israeli-Palestinian violence has surged with frequent military West Bank raids and a spate of Palestinian street attacks. Over 90 Palestinians have been killed since January, while at least 19 Israelis and foreigners have died.
Impact on Peace Talks
U.S.-brokered peace talks aimed at establishing a Palestinian state have been stalled for nearly a decade and show no signs of resuming. The recent raids and rocket attacks have only added to the existing tensions.
