The Israel Defense Forces closed the Temple Mount on Saturday until further notice due to safety concerns.
“It’s not just Fridays, but for all of Ramadan, there have been several attempts at attacks in various places,” IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said after announcing the decision. “The challenge is to succeed in keeping watch this whole month and afterwards, because it does not end with Ramadan, but we are more pressed this month. We must really be very vigilant, very meticulous, with very good security.”
“We are in a multi-front war—Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria, Gaza, and even more distant things,” he continued. “Everyone, every soldier, the IDF, and the Border Police—we work together and have responsibility for all arenas because every event that happens in one arena really affects and can create incidents in other areas.”
Since the start of Ramadan, tens of thousands of Arabs have gathered to pray at the revered site. In response, Israel has beefed up its presence not only on the Temple Mount but in Judea and Samaria as well. Jewish settlements, major roads, and checkpoints have all been identified by the army as potential targets.
Throughout history, the Temple Mount has been a point of contention between Jews and Muslims. For Jews, it holds deep meaning as the place where their holy Temples once stood, representing the heart of their spiritual and historical heritage. Muslims see it as the sacred location of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, believed to be where Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven during his Night Journey.
