Members of the movement have also monitored Jewish visitation to the Al-Aqsa compound and attempts by activists to perform Jewish prayers,[4] which, per the status quo, is disallowed by the Israeli and Jordanian authorities.[3][8] Members have disrupted several such attempts by verbally abusing,[2][4] and on occasion physically assaulting, Jewish activist groups.[7][4] Israel has in turn attempted to bar access to Al-Aqsa by members of the group.[6][7]
The parallel groups, Murabiton for men and Murabitat for women, were created by the northern branch of the Islamist group, Islamic Movement in Israel in 2012.[4][3] According to Haaretz, their purpose is "to harass Jews visiting Temple Mount."[4] The groups run a daily shuttle service between the concentration of Arab towns including Umm al-Fahm and Tayibe), that is called the Triangle, as well as from the Negev and the Galilee to the Temple Mount.[4]
According to Israeli security officials, before the male and female groups were banned and the offices of the NGO funding them closed, activists were paid 3,000–4,000 shekels ($771–$1,028) per month, with some of the funds coming from the Gulf States.[4]
According to Christian Broadcasting Network, the women are, "paid to harass female visitors to the Temple Mount even when they're modestly dressed."[9]
In August, 2015, the women harassed a group of visiting Members of the United States Congress, including Rep. Evan Jenkins, Rep. Trent Franks, Rep. Keith Rothfus and Mr. Jenkins' wife, Elizabeth Jenkins.[9][10][6] Congressman Jenkins described himself as being, "struck by the level of intolerance and the confrontational attitudes and approach and actions" taken by the group."[10] He described the behavior of the Muslims on the Temple Mount that day as "shocking".[6]
In August 2015, the activists were banned from Temple Mount by Israeli Minister of Public Security, Gilad Erdan, during morning visiting hours.[7] Earlier, the Arab League condemned the plan to ban the group.[11] On September 8, 2015, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon signed an order which declared the Murabitat group as an illegal organization.[12][4]
Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib, head of the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf that administers the Temple Mount, called the decision, "totally unacceptable", asserting that the government of Israel had "no right" to intervene.[13]
