Jerusalem / PNN /

The Jerusalem Governorate has warned of what it described as “open and escalating moves” by extremist Temple Mount groups, saying these activities “can no longer be viewed as mere fanatic ideas but as part of an organized colonial project” supported by official Israeli institutions.

In a statement issued Thursday, the Governorate said these groups, which promote the construction of the so-called “Third Temple,” are receiving direct political and financial backing from Israeli authorities with the goal of undermining the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and imposing full Israeli control over it as a prelude to replacing it with the alleged temple.

The statement noted that Temple Mount groups have been intensifying their public preparations through religious and educational institutions. One such example is the “Yeshivat Har HaBayit” school, which recently published videos showing practical training sessions for the construction of the temple.

According to the statement, these alarming preparations include:

Training priests to perform ritual animal sacrifices,

Sewing special garments for the priests according to Jewish ritual law,

Designing detailed architectural models representing the alleged temple structure.

The Governorate stressed that these activities are “clearly supported by the Israeli government,” whether through direct funding or political cover provided by extremist ministers and officials.

It also pointed to the role of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who, it said, is “racing against time” to enforce the temporal and spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque and is openly encouraging these groups to intensify mass incursions into its courtyards.

The statement warned that Temple Mount groups have recently begun publicly calling for the demolition of Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock to make way for the alleged temple, publishing detailed blueprints for its construction.

The Governorate emphasized that such actions are part of a comprehensive colonial plan aimed at altering Jerusalem’s religious, political, and legal status by seizing Islamic endowment lands and erasing the city’s Arab and Islamic identity.

It warned that ignoring these developments “could lead to catastrophic consequences for the region’s security and stability,” urging urgent Arab, Islamic, and international action to pressure Israel to halt its violations.