WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday (Feb 28) urged Israel to allow Muslims to worship at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem during Ramadan after a far-right minister proposed barring Palestinians from the occupied West Bank from praying there.
Israeli security forces stand guard as Palestinian Muslims perform Friday Noon prayers on a street in east Jerusalem on Feb 23, 2024. WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday urged Israel to allow Muslims to worship at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem during Ramadan after a far-right minister proposed barring Palestinians from the occupied West Bank from praying there.
"That's not just the right thing to do, it's not just a matter of granting people religious freedom that they deserve and to which they have a right, but it's also a matter that directly is important to Israel's security," he said.Israel has been assessing how to address worship in Jerusalem during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month that will start on Mar 10 or 11, depending on the lunar calendar.Hamas has called for a mass movement on Al-Aqsa for the start of Ramadan.
Last week, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said that Palestinian residents of the West Bank"should not be allowed" entry to Jerusalem to pray during Ramadan. The Israeli military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 29,954 people, mostly women and children, according to the latest figures by the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.