New ‘Israeli’ law sparks alarm over Aqsa Mosque status quo
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- 'Israel’s' parliament passes a law critics say could legitimize Jewish religious rituals at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
- Palestinian officials warn the move threatens the long-standing legal and historical status quo at the holy site.
The ‘Israeli’ Knesset has approved a controversial bill that could pave the way for enforcing Jewish religious rituals at Al-Aqsa Mosque, raising fears of a fundamental shift in the status quo at one of Islam’s holiest sites.
On Wednesday, lawmakers voted 49–35 in favor of the bill, titled “Realization of Jewish Identity in the Public Sphere”, proposed by Likud party member Galit Distel Atbaryan.
The bill’s supporters say the law protects freedom of religious expression and criminalizes interference with Jewish religious practices in public spaces.
Law Targets Public Space
The legislation guarantees legal protection for Jewish rituals and symbols in public areas and bars any action that restricts such practices.
Palestinian officials and legal experts warn that classifying Al-Aqsa Mosque as a public space under ‘Israeli’ law would represent a dangerous precedent.
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Warnings of escalation
Hassan Khater, head of the International Jerusalem Center, said the law reflects a rapid move toward comprehensive Judaization of religious and historical landmarks in Jerusalem, with Al-Aqsa at the center.
“This legislation effectively legalizes Israeli control over holy sites, particularly Al-Aqsa, and aims to change its Islamic character” Khater said. He added that ‘Israel’ is seeking to build a full legal and cultural infrastructure to assert dominance over the site.
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Khater warned that the measure would not have been possible without what he described as international complicity with ‘Israel’s’ policies toward holy places.
Focus on Al-Aqsa
Palestinian officials say Al-Aqsa is the primary target of the new law, noting previous ‘Israeli’ attempts to place the mosque under the authority of ‘Israel’s’ Ministry of Religious Affairs. They argue the bill prepares the legal ground for practical steps that could enable time-based or spatial division of the compound.
‘Israeli’ forces and settlers have repeatedly carried out incursions into the mosque compound, often under heavy police protection, performing provocative rituals that have fueled tensions across the occupied West Bank.
