Israel Orders Jerusalem Shops Closed for Settler Prayer During Sukkot

Israeli police have ordered dozens of Palestinian shop owners in Jerusalem's Old City Al-Qattanin neighborhood to close their businesses for the duration of the Sukkot holiday. The closures, which began Sunday and will continue until next Sunday, are intended to facilitate prayer gatherings by settlers in front of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This marks a departure from previous years' practices.

In prior Sukkot holidays, authorities typically requested shops remain closed only until 10 a.m. on the first and last days of the festival. However, this year, police have mandated a complete closure for the entire holiday period. The order was initially communicated via phone calls, followed by police officers visiting the area to enforce the closure on approximately 56 businesses and institutions, including a branch of Al-Quds University.

Hundreds of settlers were observed in the neighborhood on Sunday, with the Al-Qattanin gate reportedly closed to Muslim worshippers heading to Al-Aqsa Mosque for prayers. Police also prevented local Palestinian residents from leaving their homes in the morning. Later, as settler numbers decreased, police allowed Muslim worshippers passage to the mosque, but access was restricted to women and children, with men being denied entry.

Concurrently, around a thousand settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Sunday, with police reportedly permitting them to conduct prayers in the courtyards, a deviation from established norms. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has formally requested the police revoke the order, arguing that the blanket closure infringes upon the rights of hundreds of individuals to work and live with dignity. The association stated that the directive lacks legal basis and is disproportionate, asserting that the Sukkot holiday or settlers' chosen prayer locations do not justify shutting down businesses.