Israel Orders Jerusalem Shops Closed for Jewish Holiday, Angering Residents

Israeli police have ordered dozens of Palestinian-owned shops in Jerusalem's Old City to close throughout the Sukkot holiday, a move that deviates from previous years' practices. The closures are intended to facilitate prayer gatherings for Jewish settlers near the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

While settler groups have prayed in the area during previous Sukkot holidays, Israeli police changed their policy last week, instructing all shopkeepers in the Al-Qattanin neighborhood to remain closed until Sunday. Initially, shopkeepers received phone calls, followed by visits from police officers who enforced the closure order. The "Haaretz" newspaper reported that 56 businesses and institutions, including a branch of Al-Quds University, received these orders.

One merchant stated that in past holidays, closures were limited to the first and last days of the holiday until 10 a.m., but this year requires complete closure for the entire duration. Hundreds of settlers arrived in the neighborhood on Sunday, with the Qattanin gate reportedly closed to Muslim worshippers heading to Al-Aqsa Mosque during prayer times. Police also prevented local Palestinian residents from leaving their homes.

Later, as settler numbers decreased, police allowed Muslim worshippers to pass through the neighborhood to the mosque's entrance, but access was restricted to women and children, with men being denied entry. Concurrently, approximately a thousand settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, where police reportedly allowed them to pray in the courtyards, a departure from the usual arrangements.

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has formally requested the police to revoke the order, arguing that the Sukkot holiday and prayer services do not grant police the authority to disrupt commercial activity, harm livelihoods, or restrict residents' movement. The association emphasized that the situation does not constitute a security event justifying such prolonged restrictions and suggested alternative measures like rerouting prayers or increasing police presence to protect businesses.

Tal Hussein, an attorney with the Association for Civil Rights, called the order "unacceptable," stating that forcing Palestinian shopkeepers to close and residents to stay home for Jewish prayers is a reversal of priorities. She urged the immediate cancellation of the instructions and threatened legal action if no response is received by Monday morning.