DayofPal– Israel is seeking to recruit ultranationalist settlers and activists into police units deployed at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Palestinian officials warn that the move could deepen Israeli control over the holy site and further undermine its historic status quo.
According to Israeli media reports, police officials have appealed for “religious officers” to join units operating at the mosque compound, with recruitment efforts reportedly targeting settler communities and activists affiliated with Temple Mount groups.
These groups advocate expanded Jewish presence at the site, while some openly call for replacing Al-Aqsa Mosque with a Jewish temple.
The Palestinian Authority’s Jerusalem Governorate condemned the initiative, describing it as a dangerous escalation and evidence of growing cooperation between Israeli state institutions and extremist groups seeking to alter the Islamic character of the mosque.
Officials warned that the move reflects broader efforts to transfer authority over the site from the Islamic Waqf, which has long administered the compound, to Israeli authorities.
Palestinian officials say Israeli measures at the compound have intensified in recent years, particularly since October 2023, amid repeated calls by Israeli politicians and activists for greater control over the site.
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