The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported on Tuesday that the Prime Minister’s office and the National Security Council have approved the Ministry of Heritage’s plan to organize tours for Jews at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
According to Al-Hurra, the authority stated that Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, from the Jewish Power party, plans to allocate two million shekels (approximately $500,000) to enhance these organized tours at the mosque’s courtyards.
The Israeli Ministry of Heritage also mentioned that it “intends to organize guided tours at the Temple Mount, allowing for the first time tens of thousands of Jews and hundreds of thousands of tourists who visit annually, to hear accurate historical information about Jewish heritage.” The visits will be conducted under the banner “Strengthening control over the Old City of Jerusalem”. The tours are set to begin in the coming weeks following the Jewish holidays.
Following statements from the National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, on Monday, in which he said that if it were up to him, he would establish a Jewish synagogue in Al-Aqsa, the Ministry of Heritage responded by saying that it will fund and organize visits for an increased number of Jews and tourists to Al-Aqsa, where they will hear what it called the most accurate historical narrative about the site.
