Israeli media: Al-Aqsa decision 'most dangerous' since Oct. 7
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Israeli newspaper Haaretz labels Netanyahu as a "failure" as his vision has taken "Israel" to the brink of abyss.
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Palestinian Muslim worshipers who were prevented from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque pray outside al-Quds's Old City as Israeli occupation forces surround them Friday, December 22, 2023. (AP)
Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported today that the decision taken by the government to restrict the entry of Palestinian worshippers into Al-Aqsa Mosque during the month of Ramadan is the most dangerous decision it has taken since the beginning of the war.
It further labeled Netanyahu as a "failure" as his vision has taken "Israel" to the brink of abyss. It emphasized that his government is the worst of its kind in the history of "Israel", stating that it is controlled by "the Temple Mount activist, Itamar Ben-Gvir."
Haaretz believes that Netanyahu has surrendered once again to Ben-Gvir's whims as at the end of the "war cabinet" session, he took this decision, which will carry a huge security cost, as past experiences have shown.
It further stated that by this decision, the Israeli government has also crystalized the accuracy of Hamas's statements that the Israeli war will exceed Palestinians to reach Muslims as well, and that "Israel" plans to attack the freedom of worship in Al-Aqsa Mosque and shift the status quo.
Decision to ignite confrontations
Haaretz stated that this decision contradicts the opinions of security authorities, the IOF, and the "Shin Bet" who warned the decision to restrict prayer will ignite more confrontations, especially in al-Quds, the West Bank, and mixed cities in Occupied Palestine.
It further compared this dangerous decision to other decisions like not allowing Palestinian workers in the West Bank to work in the occupied territories, and shutting all doors to the Holy Mosque, stopping thousands of worshippers every Friday.
The Israeli newspaper concluded by pondering that this decision could have been taken based on internal motives alien to "national interest", like fear for the safety of the coalition, in a 'worse-case' scenario. As for the worst-case scenario, Netanyahu could have made this decision to prolong the war and intensify it to distance himself in the day-after.
For the first time since 1948
Palestinian historian, Professor Mahmoud Yazbek, previously told Al Mayadeen Net that the decision to restrict the entry of Palestinians to Al-Aqsa during the month of Ramadan will necessarily generate severe popular reactions that may ignite the region again and with a greater force than what has been happening over the past month.
Yazbek added that Israeli governments have tried over the past years to make such a decision against the Palestinians in the occupied territories of 1967 however they have always ended up backing down or softening their position prompted by the recommendations of Israeli security intelligence and assessments elaborating on the serious impact of such a stance. He emphasized that the occupation government had never taken such a decision before towards Palestinians in al-Quds or those of the occupied territories of 1948.
The PIJ has warned about this decision
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement (PIJ) warned yesterday of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's endorsement of the proposal of his Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to restrict the entry of Muslim worshippers from the '48 occupied territories to al-Aqsa Mosque during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
In a statement, the movement highlighted that the imposition of this restriction suggests that "Israel" has included Al-Aqsa Mosque in its direct targeting plan, as part of a systematic agenda for displacement and Judaization.
"Israel seeks to implement and impose this plan within the framework of the ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip," the statement added.
The statement also cautioned that the Israeli assault on Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, is not merely an aggression against Palestinians but extends to affect all Muslims.
"Normalization regimes in the region are encouraging "Israel" to commit such actions," it stressed.
