There has been an increase in the number of Jews visiting and even praying on the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism, in recent weeks, following a decrease in the number of Jewish visitors in Fall 2022.
According to the Yeraeh organization, which monitors the number of visitors to the Temple Mount, the decline occurred over the course of seven weeks at the end of the previous government, and the increase began soon after the current government was established at the end of December.
The organization recorded an increase of "over eight percent compared to the corresponding week last year". and that for "the third week in a row, there was an increase in the number of Jews on the Temple Mount that began with the establishment of the new government, and the ascent to the Temple Mount of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir."
On Rosh Chodesh Shevat, the first day of the Hebrew month of Shevat, which was celebrated on Monday, the number of visitors the Temple Mount jumped by a record 54 percent compared to the previous year.
Yeraeh said in a statement that "according to the visitors, there has been a great sense of relief for the Jews on the Temple Mount since Ben-Gvir became Public Security Minister", and even that "there is a lot of enforcement of the ban on soccer games on the Temple Mount". In addition, "the decree banning baked goods at the entrance to the Temple Mount was revoked, ending a decree that signified the retreats on the Temple Mount during the outgoing government's last two days in office."
Assaf Fried, spokesman for the Temple Mount administration, agreed that there has been an increase in the number of Jewish visitors to the holy site on Rosh Chodesh.
286 Jews visited the Temple Mount on Monday, the majority of whom were even able to pray at the site. These included a number of prominent rabbis.