"Dream - Israeli Minister of Cultural Heritage, Amihai Eliyahu, calls for the holy month of Ramadan to be abolished. 'What is called the month of Ramadan must be abolished and our fear of this month must also be abolished,' said Eliyahu, quoted from Anadolu Agency, Tuesday, March 5, 2024."

Eliyahu has caused public uproar several times due to his statements, one of which was when he expressed his desire to drop a nuclear bomb on the Gaza Strip as one of the options amid tensions there. Lately, Israel has become anxious about the possibility of clashes in the West Bank and Jerusalem as a consequence of the aggression in the Gaza Strip, which has claimed the lives of more than 30,400 people.

Israel is concerned about possible clashes, especially during the month of Ramadan, especially after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu restricted Muslims from visiting the Al-Aqsa Mosque for security reasons. The Al-Aqsa Mosque complex has often been a point of tension between Israeli and Palestinian residents for many years.

In 2000, Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon triggered a bloody riot in the complex by visiting there. Riots also occurred in 2023 and 2022. Police forces and Palestinian residents clashed after Jewish individuals planned to slaughter goats and perform several rituals at the holy site. Such actions are prohibited by Israeli law.

Although so, Jewish people often pray there despite the rule. In fact, according to Jewish law, entering any part of the Masjid Al Aqsa complex or also known as the Temple Mount is not allowed due to the sacred nature of the site.