The Temple Mount is under Israeli security authority, while the Jordanian Waqf administers Muslim religious affairs and the Islamic holy buildings. Israel’s stated status quo policy allows non-Muslim visitors but bars non-Muslim worship on the compound; Muslims pray there. The Congressional Research Service describes the policy and its historical roots, while noting that the term “status quo” covers a set of practices rather than one detailed written agreement.
How the arrangement developed
Before 1967, the Jordanian Waqf administered the site. After Israel took control of the Old City during the Six-Day War, Defense Minister Moshe Dayan allowed the Waqf to continue internal religious administration and removed the Israeli flag from the Dome of the Rock. Israeli police retained security responsibilities. The arrangement developed through decisions and practice; it was not established by a single formal instrument defining every authority.
Jordan’s role is also reflected in the 1994 Israel-Jordan peace treaty, which recognizes Jordan’s “special role” in Muslim holy shrines in Jerusalem. The CRS report explains that Israeli authorities oversee non-Muslim entry through one gate while the Waqf manages other gates for Muslim visitors. This division is practical and contested in its details: site access, maintenance, and police activity have all been subjects of disagreement.
Access and prayer in practice
Israeli policy distinguishes access from worship. Non-Muslims may visit during designated periods, subject to security decisions and temporary restrictions. The State Department’s religious-freedom reporting documents that authorities have restricted access for Muslims and Jews in some cases based on age, gender, religion, or security concerns. Visiting arrangements can therefore differ by date and circumstance; travelers should check current official instructions.
Formal policy and events on the ground are not identical. Jewish visitors have sometimes prayed or performed religious acts despite the stated ban, and police enforcement has varied. The government’s stated policy remains that non-Islamic prayer is not allowed at the compound. Jewish worship is permitted at the Western Wall plaza below the Mount. Learn what “Al-Aqsa” can refer to and which buildings stand inside the compound.