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Israel Bans Non-Muslim Visits to Al-Aqsa Compound until Ramadan End

Palestinian Muslim devotees perform an evening prayer known as "Tarawih" outside the Dome of the Rock shrine in Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, on April 8, 2023. (AFP)
Palestinian Muslim devotees perform an evening prayer known as "Tarawih" outside the Dome of the Rock shrine in Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, on April 8, 2023. (AFP)
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Israel Bans Non-Muslim Visits to Al-Aqsa Compound until Ramadan End

Palestinian Muslim devotees perform an evening prayer known as "Tarawih" outside the Dome of the Rock shrine in Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, on April 8, 2023. (AFP)
Palestinian Muslim devotees perform an evening prayer known as "Tarawih" outside the Dome of the Rock shrine in Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, on April 8, 2023. (AFP)

Jewish visitors and tourists will be banned from the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem until the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Tuesday.

An Israeli police raid at the site last week triggered rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza, Lebanon and Syria that were met with Israeli strikes.

In previous years Israel has banned Jewish visits to the compound in the last 10 days of Ramadan.

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Netanyahu Says Israel Will Remain on Mt Hermon 'Until Another Arrangement is Found'

17 December 2024, Israel, Mount Hermon: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (2nd R) visits an observation point on the summit of Mount Hermon. Photo: Ma'yan Toaf/GPO/dpa
17 December 2024, Israel, Mount Hermon: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (2nd R) visits an observation point on the summit of Mount Hermon. Photo: Ma'yan Toaf/GPO/dpa
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Netanyahu Says Israel Will Remain on Mt Hermon 'Until Another Arrangement is Found'

17 December 2024, Israel, Mount Hermon: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (2nd R) visits an observation point on the summit of Mount Hermon. Photo: Ma'yan Toaf/GPO/dpa
17 December 2024, Israel, Mount Hermon: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (2nd R) visits an observation point on the summit of Mount Hermon. Photo: Ma'yan Toaf/GPO/dpa

Israel will remain on the strategic Mount Hermon site on the Syrian border until another arrangement is found, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Israeli troops occupied Mount Hermon when they moved into a demilitarized zone between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights following the collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government this month.

Officials have described the move as a limited and temporary measure to ensure the security of Israel's borders but have given no indication of when the troops might be withdrawn and Defense Minister Israel Katz last week ordered troops to prepare to remain on Mount Hermon over the winter.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu went to the site for an operational briefing with military commanders and security officials.

"We are holding this assessment in order to decide on the deployment of the IDF in this important place until another arrangement is found that ensures Israel's security," he said in a statement issued by his office late on Tuesday, referring to the Israeli army.

Israel's move into the buffer zone created following the 1973 Arab-Israeli war has been criticized as a violation of international agreements by a number of countries and the United Nations, which have called for the troops to be withdrawn.