CNN
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Thousands of Jewish worshippers visited the holy sites of Jerusalem during the Passover holiday.
Sukkot, a member of the Religious Zionism Party, visited Al Aksa Compound in Jerusalem’s old town on Thursday morning, prostrating himself on the ground and praying in violation of the delicate status quo agreement that controls the scene.
“The Jews bow, pray, and embrace Minyanim here,” Scott said, referring to the quorum of ten men needed for a particular Jewish service. “Arabs are not allowed to come near us at all,” the lawmaker added, and Israeli security forces were walking among the worshipers around him.
Anyone can visit Al Aqsa compounds, but only Muslims are allowed to pray there, according to the current situation agreement that has existed since Israel captured the old city of Jerusalem in 1967. Known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, it is the third most sacred place in Islam.
However, current contracts are increasingly being tested and in some cases deliberately challenged. The far-right lawmakers in Israel have repeatedly visited the holy sites and encourage other Jewish worshipers to do the same. Some of these visits sparked protests as well as diplomatic fallouts across the region.
Video from the scene on Thursday showed Scott openly praying, surrounded by a group of Jewish men, while Israeli police officers roamed the background without interfering or interrupting the prayer session. Sukkot said it was very different from his last visit to the site 14 years ago.
“At the time they were looking at you carefully. If they saw you whisper a prayer, they would jump on you. What’s going on is an incredible miracle,” he said.
Scott’s visit occurs in the Holy Land worshipers who have said 6,315 worshipers have been present at prayer sessions so far since they began with Passover last weekend, when they pray to pray.
The organization filmed Sukkot’s video at the complex, with daily records set on Thursday, adding that 2,106 people attended. Despite Monica, the Temple Mount administration is not a government agency.
Instead, it is a right-wing organization that works to organize and promote Jewish prayers in the holy land. They described the number of visitors as a “historical record” and said it has increased 37% from last year.
Itamar Ben Gwil, the far-right Israeli national security minister who leads the Jewish party, praised Scott’s visit. “What hasn’t been done in 30 years is being done with my watch. I’m grateful that God’s grace has given me the privilege to lead this incredible change,” he told social media.
Ben Gvir frequently visits the holy sites and reveals his intention to allow and promote Jewish worship despite the ban. After the December visit, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office was forced to issue a statement saying, “The current situation in Temple Mount has not changed.”