The Union of Institutions Working for Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque has issued a stark warning regarding the escalating Israeli violations within the holy site, following a recent incident where settlers conducted a religious Talmudic circle inside the mosque’s precincts. The group identified the session as being led by the extremist Rabbi Elisha Wolfson, describing the event not as an isolated occurrence but as a calculated step forward in the systematic Judaization of the mosque and the imposition of a new reality on the ground.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Union emphasized that settler groups associated with the Temple have shifted their tactics since 2025. Previously limited to advocating for such activities, these groups have now moved to practically execute Talmudic circles and lessons within the mosque grounds. The Union characterized this shift as a direct escalation aimed at altering the identity of the site and forcing new facts through sheer action. Crucially, the organization noted that these practices are no longer carried out in secrecy; they are now performed openly, emboldened by what it described as silence from Arab, Islamic, and international bodies.
Union officials warned that the normalization of these violations poses a severe threat. They argued that if the community becomes accustomed to the desecration of the mosque’s sanctity, future escalations will become familiar scenes that fail to trigger appropriate reactions proportional to their gravity. The statement stressed that these Talmudic circles are part of a gradual process designed to establish a Judaized reality within the mosque. This strategy serves as preparation for cementing temporal and spatial division, ultimately imposing Israeli sovereignty over the site.
Addressing religious leadership, the Union called upon scholars and preachers to fulfill their responsibilities by clearly articulating the severity of the threats facing Al-Aqsa. It asserted that the duty to forbid evil and issue warnings necessitates a firm stance against violations targeting Islamic sanctuaries. Furthermore, the organization placed legal and moral obligations on official international, human rights, and humanitarian institutions to protect the mosque and freedom of worship. It cautioned that continued silence in the face of these violations grants the occupation broader leeway to impose new realities.
Concluding its statement, the Union reaffirmed that protecting Al-Aqsa is a collective responsibility incumbent upon the nation and its institutions. It urged all entities possessing the capacity to offer support and influence to take practical positions to counter the plans aimed at Judaizing the holy site.
