Israeli police seeks religious Jews for Al-Aqsa unit, report says

JERUSALEM — Israeli police are trying to recruit religious Jews for units that operate at Al-Aqsa Mosque, according to a report in Haaretz. The paper said officer Daniyal Lirh posted recruitment notices on social media and in WhatsApp groups. The notices were also sent to groups that include far-right activists and settlers, the report said. Applicants were offered special work arrangements, including not working on weekends, a four-day work week or 10 days a month. Haaretz said some far-right activists have encouraged their students to join the police, and that some radical Jews entered these units over the past year. The report also said personnel working at holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City are in constant contact with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his wife. It added that similar groups have tried to place people aligned with them in the area, and that police practices changed under Ben-Gvir’s influence. The paper said the hours when Jewish settlers are allowed to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque were also extended.