Gaza Herald – The Jerusalem Municipality has warned against ongoing attempts by alleged Temple groups to impose a new religious reality in the vicinity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. These groups are organizing prayers and Talmudic rituals at the Eastern Wall, adjacent to the Mercy Gate on the exterior side of the wall.
In a statement released on Monday, the municipality detailed that these groups are mobilizing supporters for so-called “Salihot” prayers. These events are scheduled for the middle of the night between Thursday, September 17, and following the exit of Saturday night, September 20, which coincides with the eve of Yom Kippur.
The municipality noted that these calls extend similar movements organized on August 27, as well as on September 3 and 10. During those instances, participants breached the Mercy Gate cemetery to reach the area bordering the eastern wall of Al-Aqsa.
Participants conducted collective prayers and rituals, including blowing the shofar. The municipality emphasized that the repetition of these movements reflects a gradual process aimed at solidifying these rituals in the location.
This strategy seeks to transform the area bordering the eastern wall into a recurring point for Jewish prayer and rituals, constituting an attempt to impose a new factual reality in the surroundings of the mosque.
The municipality cautioned against the dangers of continuing these practices. It called for confronting attempts to change the historical and legal status quo at Al-Aqsa and its surroundings.
Furthermore, the statement urged the international community to assume its responsibilities in protecting holy sites and halting occupation procedures targeting Jerusalem, its identity, and its sanctuaries.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
