Report: Israeli police recruiting far- right religious Jewish police officers for service at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound

Israeli police have launched a recruitment initiative targeting far- right, religious Jews, including individuals involved in storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, according to a report published by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

The report said Daniel Lerch, deputy commander of the police unit responsible for the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, circulated recruitment appeals through social media platforms and WhatsApp groups, including groups that reportedly contain settler activists and members of the far right.

In a recruitment message cited by Haaretz, Lerch wrote:

“We have launched a project to recruit religious police officers for the Temple Mount. Anyone who wants to participate in enforcing sovereignty is welcome to contact me.”

According to the newspaper, several activists who support Jewish visits to the Al-Aqsa compound said rabbis have encouraged their students to join the police unit assigned to the site in order to increase what they described as a Jewish presence among officers stationed there.

The report added that a number of religious activists who regularly participate in storming the compound have joined the police force over the past year.

Haaretz also quoted police sources as saying that officers working at religious sites in the Old City of Jerusalem maintain regular contact with Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his wife.