What's happened
The Israeli government is considering imposing restrictions on Muslim worshippers' access to the Al Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan, leading to concerns about potential unrest.
Why it matters
The potential restrictions on Muslim worshippers' access to the Al Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan are significant due to the religious and geopolitical sensitivities surrounding the site, and the potential for unrest and tensions in the region.
What the papers say
The New York Times reports that the Israeli government is locked in debate on whether to increase restrictions on Muslims' access to the mosque, with predictions of potential unrest if the limits are enforced. The Times of Israel and Gulf News also cover the debate, with The Times of Israel reporting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering endorsing restrictions on Arab Israelis' access to the mosque, while Gulf News states that Netanyahu has made a 'balanced decision' to allow freedom of worship at the mosque during Ramadan, but with limited access according to security needs.
How we got here
The debate over restrictions on Muslim worshippers' access to the Al Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan has been ongoing, with concerns about potential unrest and tensions in the region.
More on these topics
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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Itamar Ben-Gvir is an Israeli lawyer, and a leader in the Israeli far-right Otzma Yehudit party. He is known for defending Jewish radicals on trial in Israel. He has called for the expulsion of Arab citizens of Israel who are not loyal to Israel.
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Al-Aqsa Mosque, located in the Old City of Jerusalem, is the third holiest site in Islam. The mosque was built on top of the Temple Mount, known as the Al Aqsa Compound or Haram esh-Sharif in Islam.
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Ramadan, also spelled Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan or Ramathan, is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.
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Jerusalem is a city in the Middle East, located on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea.