Rabbi Eliyahu says visible Jewish devotion reshaped Temple Mount atmosphere, reducing Arab attendance and restoring Jewish presence.
Shmuel Eliyahu, Chief Rabbi of Tzfat, has offered an explanation for a sharp decline in the number of Arab visitors ascending the Temple Mount, estimating that attendance has dropped by roughly half.
According to Rabbi Eliyahu, the change is linked to a visible increase in Jewish prayer practices on the Mount. He recounted a conversation relayed by a friend with a senior Arab official present at the site, who claimed that the sight of Jews bowing in prayer has altered perceptions and behavior.
Quoting the official, Rabbi Eliyahu said the Arab representative explained that witnessing Jews humbling themselves before God created a sense of unease, leading many Arabs to avoid visiting the Mount altogether. The rabbi presented this as evidence that renewed Jewish spiritual presence has transformed the atmosphere at the site.
In a separate statement, the Temple Mount Yeshiva praised National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for what it described as restoring governance and dignity to Judaism’s holiest place. The yeshiva said that since his appointment, the Mount has shifted from hostile chants to prayer, Torah study, and celebratory songs.
The statement concluded that a growing number of rabbis are ascending the Temple Mount and that Jewish worship there is strengthening, signaling what it called a renewed return of the People of Israel to their most sacred site.
