Temple Mount entry restrictions

Throughout history, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem has been subject to entry restrictions on the basis of religious affiliation. These restrictions have varied depending on the time period and the authority in power. Like the rest of the Holy Land, the site holds great significance in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, among other Abrahamic religions.

Under the Ottoman Empire, there was an absolute ban on non-Muslim entry to the Temple Mount before the Tanzimat, which was a period of liberal reformation that began in 1839 and continued until 1876. Following the Tanzimat, non-Muslims were allowed to enter the site as long as they requested a special permit from the Ottoman authorities. Under the British Mandate for Palestine, the British government was prohibited by the League of Nations from interfering with the Ottoman-era "Status Quo" and the Jordanian Hashemite custodianship continued to exercise administrative control over Christian and Muslim sites throughout Jerusalem, with non-Muslim access to the Temple Mount still requiring special permission.

During the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Jerusalem was divided, with Israel capturing West Jerusalem and Jordan capturing East Jerusalem, including the Old City. Under Jordan, the present-day Jerusalem Islamic Waqf was established and non-Muslim access to the Temple Mount remained limited; Jews and Israelis (incl. Muslims with Israeli citizenship) were banned from entering the site entirely. During the 1967 Arab–Israeli War, Israel captured all of Jerusalem, but kept the Jordan-based Jerusalem Islamic Waqf in power of affairs concerning the Christian and Islamic sites there.

At present, Israel and Jordan continue to have administrative responsibility over the Temple Mount, with the Israeli government controlling entry and the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf managing what is known to Muslims as Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which includes the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Jews and Christians are generally restricted from entering for extended periods and may only visit the site as tourists, as the Status Quo only permits Muslim prayer on the Temple Mount; Jewish entry restrictions are also dependent on the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, which holds the position that entering the site for prayer or worship goes against Judaic law. However, Israel also frequently prohibits Palestinian Muslims under the age of 55 from entering the site, which, according to Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti, makes more than 95% of the Palestinian populace ineligible. Due to widespread tension stemming from entry restrictions and religious activities, clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians are common at the Temple Mount, including at Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, among other sites.