Jewish men permitted to pray on Temple Mount with prayer books for first time, Ben-Gvir confirms

Jewish men were permitted to bring prayer books onto the Temple Mount on Sunday, a development confirmed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. This marks a shift from the longstanding status quo, which generally prohibits Jewish prayer at the site. Right-wing journalist Arnon Segal shared a photo of men praying with prayer books, calling it "an initial experiment aimed at ensuring the Middle East doesn't lose its mind over this." The Israel Police stated they operate "in accordance with the directives of the political echelon, the established rules governing the site, and operational assessments." This follows earlier relaxations in January allowing single printed prayer pages. Arab and Muslim officials recently condemned Israeli actions in Jerusalem, claiming they alter the city's identity.