Gantz at security assessment (archive)ת
Gantz at security assessment (archive)תTal Oz/Defense Ministry

The IDF’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Major General Ghassan Alian, announced on Tuesday night that following a situational assessment, Defense Minister Benny Gantz has approved the entry of Palestinian Arabs to the Temple Mount for Friday prayers.

Women of all ages will be permitted entrance, as will children up to the age of 12, even without a valid permit. Men over the age of 50 will also be granted entry even without a valid permit, and men aged between 40 and 50 will be allowed to visit the site if they have a valid permit.

In addition, in honor of Ramadan, Defense Minister Ganz has for the first time approved family visits to Israel for Palestinian Arabs living in Judea and Samaria on Sunday through Thursday.

It was also decided that there will be another situational assessment next week headed by the Defense Minister, at the end of which Gantz will decide whether to approve an extension of the easing of restrictions with regard to family visits, subject to the security situation.

General Alian noted that in the last two years, restrictions were not eased during Ramadan due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year, during the month of Ramadan, crossings from PA-areas into pre-1967 Israel will be open for extended hours.