Ramallah: One of the Jewish senior spiritual leaders for Israel’s far right wing announced on Sunday he was moving to occupied east Jerusalem in order to strengthen Jewish colony activities in the holy city.

Rabbi Dov Lior, who retired last week as chief rabbi of Hebron and Karyat Arba’a, officially announced he was moving to the Jabal Al Zaitoun (Mount of Olives) in occupied East Jerusalem, a move that is expected to add fuel to an already inflamed situation. Lior’s followers say the move marks the beginning of a new pilgrimage for Israelis across the country to move to occupied east Jerusalem.

“I hope that my presence in the eastern part of Jerusalem will strengthen our standing in Jerusalem’s gates,” he said in a statement.

Palestinians say the move is intended to exacerbate tensions between Muslims and Jews in the holy city. Lior’s new residence in the Al Siwana area of the Olive Mount, overlooks the entire city and is only 300 metres from the eastern wall of Al Haram Al Sharif.

Lior has been a vocal advocate of Jewish worship at Al Haram Al Sharif and has encouraged Jews to trespass on the Muslim holy site. He also has called on Israeli military to disobey orders to dismantle Jewish colonies and outposts built on Palestinian land. He forbids Jews to employ or rent to Palestinians.

Lior, who has acted as the spiritual leader of the Bayit Yehudi political party, has been the source of many rows over his 40-year service as the Hebron and Karyat Araba’a rabbi.

In 2011, he was handed an arrest warrant for incitement after he published a book, The King’s Torah, in which he legitimises the killing of non-Jews during the time of war. He was never arrested.