A six-month restraining order was issued to the deputy director of the Jordanian Waqf, Sheikh Dr. Najah Bakirat, a senior Jordanian figure in Jerusalem. This followed security information received from security sources, according to which Bkirat was "a senior Hamas operative involved in security activity." The expulsion follows a hearing held two weeks ago, where it was claimed that "the presence of the sheikh in Jerusalem is in danger." Bkirat decided to petition the High Court of Justice against the decision.
This is an unusual intervention by the IDF towards elements in the Jordanian Waqf, since the Israel Police and Shin Bet usually struggle against the influence of terrorist elements on the Temple Mount. In addition, Bakiraj is one of the most senior figures on the Temple Mount, and is responsible for the day-to-day operation of parts of the Waqf organization and its educational arms for the young population in East Jerusalem. The sheikh has been arrested several times in the past for his involvement in illicit activities, and has been imprisoned more than 2001 times since 20.
Will petition the High Court of Justice (Photo: documentation on social networks according to section 27A of the Copyright Law)
If the High Court rejects the petition, the order against the sheikh will soon go into effect and he will be exiled from his home in Abu Tor for a period of six months. An announcement from the IDF, which does not often intervene in issues related to the Temple Mount, announcing Bashirat's involvement in a terrorist organization may signal a leap forward in the attitude of the defense establishment towards him, and perhaps an increase in the various suspicions against him. Decisions regarding the issuance of an order are made after careful examination by the IDF, while weighing the danger posed, balancing all the considerations, and after weighing the arguments raised during the hearing.
This is not the first time incidents linked to Hamas and Al-Aqsa have been reported. Hamas flags were waved at some of the Friday prayers during Ramadan, and young people in the West Bank and inside Israel were encouraged to come and carry out the mitzvah of seclusion on the Mount and "unify the sectors" – an attempt by the terrorist organization to portray itself as the "defender of Al-Aqsa," which was also reflected in its publications on the subject and in responses to Israeli actions inside the Mount.
The invitation to the hearing sent to a senior official (photo: documentation on social networks according to section 27A of the Copyright Law)
An IDF spokesperson said in response: "Restrictions on entry to the city of Jerusalem, including the Sur Bahir area, were imposed on Bkirat by an order issued by the commander of the Home Front Command in accordance with his powers under the Defense (Emergency) Regulations, 1945. The order was issued after the Home Front Command commander was presented with the recommendation of security officials, indicating a risk posed by a senior official to state security, and after a hearing was held for him."
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- Waqf
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