Arab Official Criticizes Government Policy on Temple Mount Visits

Jamāl Zḥaḥalka, chairman of the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee, has raised alarms regarding the rising number of Jewish visitors to the Temple Mount, a trend he attributes not solely to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir but to a broader government initiative. In an interview with the Arab-Israeli news outlet Al-Jaramak, Zḥaḥalka stated that the influx of visitors is part of a declared policy aimed at increasing Jewish presence and establishing a new status quo at the site. He emphasized that the issue extends beyond Ben-Gvir and the settlers, implicating the government and the Israel Police in facilitating what he describes as breaches into the al-Aqsa mosque compound. Zḥaḥalka noted that the recent visit coincided with Tisha B’Av, a time he claims is being exploited by extremist groups to promote their agenda regarding the Temple Mount and to advocate for the establishment of the Third Temple in place of the al-Aqsa mosque. He accused Israeli authorities of systematically working to alter the historical and legal status of the al-Aqsa mosque by increasing Jewish visitation, providing additional privileges to Jewish visitors, and imposing stricter regulations on Muslim worshippers. In light of these developments, Zḥaḥalka underscored the role of Arab citizens of Israel and residents of Jerusalem as the primary defenders of the al-Aqsa mosque, urging the public to visit the site and show solidarity with the local Arab community.