[Jpost] "The positions of some security officials who recommend approving the massive entry of PA residents to the Temple Mount shows that they learned nothing from October 7," said Ben-Gvir.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and a number of other ministers and security officials will meet on Sunday afternoon to set policy over visits to the Temple Mount by Muslim Arab citizens of Israel and Palestinians from the West Bank during the month-long Muslim holiday of Ramadan, which begins on March 10.
The issue is highly contentious, as Ramadan usually brings with it heightened security tensions. Reports on Friday, which a spokesperson for Ben-Gvir said on Sunday were "largely correct," said that the national security minister's position was to prevent Arab residents of the West Bank from entering the mount entirely, while only allowing entry for Israeli Arabs aged 70 and above.
Ben-Gvir expressed concerns that adopting the other security bodies' positions could lead to the display of tens of thousands of Hamas flags on the Temple Mount, and lead to outbreaks of violence.
In contrast, according to a report by Maariv, the Israel Police recommended allowing entry for Arab residents of the West Bank from age 60 and for Israeli Arabs from age 45. The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) suggested allowing entry for West Bank Arabs from age 45 and unlimited entry for Israeli Arabs. The Shin Bet's argument is diametrically opposed to Ben-Gvir's: Blocking Palestinians from entering the Temple Mount is what could lead to violence.
Ben-Gvir fears entry to the Temple Mount will become a 10,000-man Hamas rally
Ben-Gvir said in a statement on Saturday evening, "It is forbidden in any way to allow the entry of residents from the 'Palestinian' authority into Israeli territory. It cannot be that abducted women are being raped in Gaza, and Israel will allow a celebration of the victory of Hamas on the Temple Mount. The positions of some of the security officials who recommend approving the massive entry of Arab residents of the West Bank to the Temple Mount shows that they learned nothing from October 7."
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