Senior Arab Leader Accuses Israeli Government of Trying to Control Al-Aqsa Mosque

Jamal Zahalka, chairman of the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel, accused the Israeli government and police of enabling increased Jewish visits to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound as part of a deliberate policy to alter its historic status. Speaking to the Arab-Israeli news site Al-Jarmaq, Zahalka said the visits, including those by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, are not isolated actions but government-backed efforts to establish new facts on the ground by raising the number of Jewish visitors.

Zahalka described the recent influx of thousands of visitors to the Temple Mount, coinciding with the Jewish fast day of Tisha B'Av, as being exploited by extremist Temple Mount groups to promote their narrative and calls for building a Third Temple in place of Al-Aqsa. He accused Israeli authorities of systematically and gradually changing the legal and historical status of the mosque by increasing Jewish access, easing restrictions for Jewish visitors, and tightening control over Muslim worshippers.

He emphasized that Arab citizens of Israel and Jerusalem residents form the first line of defense for Al-Aqsa through their constant presence and urged the Muslim public to visit and support the Arab residents of Jerusalem. Zahalka's statements highlight ongoing tensions surrounding access and control of the sensitive religious site in Jerusalem.

Summary: Jamal Zahalka, leader of Israel's Arab community, accused the Israeli government of a systematic policy to increase Jewish visits to Al-Aqsa Mosque, aiming to change its historic status. He called on Muslims to support Jerusalem's Arab residents in defending the site amid rising tensions around the Temple Mount.