The Strategic Decision
Immediately after the Six-Day War, Defense Minister Moshe Dayan made a calculated decision: while Israel retained military and legal sovereignty over the Temple Mount, it would hand day-to-day religious administration back to the Islamic Waqf. Dayan aimed to avoid a pan-Islamic backlash and maintain peace with Jordan, which claimed custodianship over Islamic holy sites.
Domestic Debate
Many Israelis viewed the gesture as overly conciliatory. Critics claimed it diminished the victory and forfeited hard-won national heritage. Others defended Dayan’s pragmatism, citing the geopolitical reality of 1967 and the fragile regional balance.
Enduring Controversy
The so-called “status quo” agreement that resulted from Dayan’s compromise continues to govern access and prayer rights on the Mount. It remains a defining feature of Israeli policy and one of the most sensitive elements in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Sources: Dayan Memoirs, Knesset Records, JVL