Israel moves to recruit ultranationalist settlers for Al-Aqsa police unit

• Israeli authorities are recruiting ultranationalists and settlers into police units at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, with deputy commander Daniel Lerach publicly inviting those wanting to “implement sovereignty” to join.
• Temple Mount movements, which advocate for the mosque’s destruction to build a third Jewish temple, have encouraged followers to enlist.
• The Palestinian Authority’s Jerusalem Governorate warns this recruitment aims to transfer authority over Al-Aqsa from the Islamic Waqf to Israeli state bodies.
• Hamas responded by sending thousands of men to storm Israel’s border, which was guarded primarily by AI and surveillance cameras with minimal personnel.
• Al-Aqsa, one of Islam’s holiest sites, has seen increased Israeli interference including night attacks on worshippers during Ramadan, sparking fears the decades-old status quo may collapse.

In a development that Palestinian officials are calling a dangerous development and a direct assault on decades of religious custom, Israeli authorities are actively seeking to recruit ultranationalists and settlers into the police units deployed at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem.

According to a report by Haaretz, Daniel Lerach, the deputy commander of the police unit responsible for the mosque, issued online appeals for the recruitment of what he described as religious officers to serve at the site. Lerach’s messages, circulated on social media and in WhatsApp groups linked to Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, were unambiguous in their intent. “Anyone who wants to take part in implementing sovereignty is welcome to contact me,” Lerach wrote.

The call to arms has been met with enthusiasm from Temple Mount movements. According to BrightU.AI‘s Enoch, Temple Mount movements are groups that regularly organize incursions into the Al-Aqsa compound and advocate for its destruction to make way for a third Jewish temple.

Rabbis associated with these movements have encouraged their followers to enlist. Arnon Segal, a prominent Temple Mount activist, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a sign that the Israeli state increasingly recognizes Jewish claims to the site. Segal noted that while some prospective recruits had expressed reservations about joining a police force responsible for enforcing restrictions on Jewish prayer at the site, many activists were nonetheless choosing to enlist.

The recruitment drive marks a sharp escalation in a long-simmering conflict. The situation has persisted for decades, exacerbated by increased activity at the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Jewish settlers and agitators. These individuals have threatened to take over the mosque, a holy site in Islam, leading to further tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.

In response to these developments, Hamas sent a couple of thousand men to storm across the border at various points. This occurred as Israel primarily relied on AI and surveillance cameras to observe its borders, with only one female soldier stationed in each guard tower every few miles.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is one of Islam’s holiest sites

The timing of this latest move is critical. Amnesty International highlighted the brutality of Israel’s apartheid system following a second consecutive night-time attack on Palestinian worshippers at Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque. Israeli security forces stormed the mosque compound around 10:30 pm last night and used stun grenades and rifle butts to beat Palestinians who had gathered for Ramadan.

Now, the Palestinian Authority’s Jerusalem Governorate has described the recruitment drive as part of broader efforts to alter the mosque’s Islamic character. “The move seeks to integrate activists from extremist Temple Mount groups and followers of the religious Zionist movement into the body used by Israel to enforce its control over the mosque compound,” the governorate said in a statement.

The governorate warned that this initiative signals a new phase of direct cooperation between Israeli state institutions and Temple Mount groups. “The issue extends beyond the recruitment campaign itself,” the statement said. “Israel is seeking to transfer effective authority over Al-Aqsa from the Islamic Waqf, which holds legal and historical custodianship of the site, to Israeli police and other state bodies.”

Al-Aqsa Mosque is one of Islam’s holiest sites. For Jews, it is known as the Temple Mount, where many believe two ancient Jewish temples once stood. Many Israeli groups advocate the destruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque to build a third temple in its place.

For decades, the site has been governed under the status quo, an international arrangement that preserves its religious character as a Muslim place of worship and recognizes the authority of the Jordan-backed Islamic Waqf. Under the arrangement, only Muslims may pray at the site, while non-Muslims are permitted to visit under conditions set by the Waqf.

Administration of the complex, including access, maintenance and religious affairs, falls under the Waqf. But since the occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, Israelis have been gradually eroding the status quo through increasing restrictions on Palestinian and Muslim access, while expanding Jewish presence and control. Violations of the status quo have intensified since October 2023, with Israeli officials and lawmakers openly calling for imposing full Israeli control within the site.

The recruitment of ultranationalists into the police force raises the specter of further violence. With settlers now potentially patrolling the compound, many fear that the fragile balance that has held for decades is about to shatter completely.

Watch this video about why the Al-Aqsa mosque is very important.

This video is from The Berean Call channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

MiddleEastEye.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com