Netanyahu Denies Policy Shift at Jerusalem Holy Site Amid Political Tensions

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed no changes in prayer arrangements at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque, defying statements from a far-right minister. The site is integral to both Judaism and Islam and plays a central role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Netanyahu's stance aims to avert political friction.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Wednesday that there were no alterations in the prayer arrangements at a volatile holy site in Jerusalem's Old City, countering claims from a far-right minister in his coalition. The walled compound houses the Al-Aqsa mosque, Islam's third-holiest location, and the Temple Mount, sacred in Judaism.

The site remains pivotal in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel has a longstanding 'status quo' agreement with Muslim authorities, allowing Jews to visit but prohibiting religious rites. 'Israel's policy of maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount has not changed and will not change,' Netanyahu's office stated.

Currently in Washington to address Congress, Netanyahu emphasized the unaltered policy to avoid sparking political tensions. Earlier, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir asserted that the Israeli political leadership permits Jewish prayer at the Temple Mount. Ben-Gvir, heading a far-right party, opposes Palestinian statehood and has been sidelined in critical policy decisions.