A far-right Israeli minister led hundreds of Jewish Israelis to Jerusalem’s most controversial holy site, many of them defying a long-standing Israeli government ban on Jewish prayer there.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, was strongly condemned by Palestinian leaders, as well as the United States, France, the United Nations and many Arab countries.
“Our policy is to enable Jewish prayer,” Ben-Gvir said in a video.
But the Israeli prime minister’s office insisted that there had been no change to the status quo agreement that only allows Muslims to worship there.
This site is considered the holiest place for Jews because it was the site of two biblical temples. It is the third holiest place for Muslims, who believe it is the place from which the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque is located in occupied East Jerusalem and was captured by Israel from Jordan in the 1967 war. Under the status quo, Jordan has been allowed to continue its historical role as custodian of the site, while Israel has assumed control of security and access.
Palestinians accuse Israel of taking steps to undermine these arrangements and complain that in recent years many Jewish visitors have been seen arriving without being stopped by Israeli police.
Videos circulating on social media on Tuesday showed groups of Jewish Israelis singing the Israeli national anthem, some holding the Israeli flag, while others knelt in prayer on the edge of the holy site.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, who visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque accompanied by Israeli police, said “significant progress” had been made in “Israel’s rule and sovereignty” there. “Our policy is to enable Jewish prayer,” he added.
He also declared that Israel “must win the war” in the Gaza Strip, and should not interfere in talks on a ceasefire and prisoner release in order to “bring Hamas to its knees.”
Later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the incident “deviated from the status quo.”
She stressed that “Israel’s policy towards the Al-Aqsa Mosque has not changed, this is how it was and this is how it will be.”
In response to this statement, Mr. Ben-Gvir said that his policy is to “enable freedom of worship for Jews in all places.”
He added, “There is no law that allows racial discrimination against Jews in the Temple Mount or anywhere else in Israel.”
But the Palestinian Foreign Ministry expressed its deep concern over what it called “the dangerous escalation resulting from the storming of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque by extremist settlers.”
The ministry said in a statement that it “will continue its political efforts to confront these provocations at various levels, warning of their serious consequences on the conflict arena and the entire region.”
The Jordanian Islamic Waqf, which administers the site, said more than 2,000 Israelis entered the compound, and appealed to Muslims around the world to help maintain the status quo.
The Jordanian Foreign Ministry said the incident reflects “the insistence of the Israeli government and its extremist members on violating international laws and Israel’s obligations as an occupying power.”
Egypt and Saudi Arabia also said the incident violated international law, with the former adding that Ben-Gvir was seeking to sabotage attempts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza.
In a statement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Mr. Ben-Gvir’s visit “demonstrated a blatant disregard for the historical status quo regarding the holy sites in Jerusalem.”
“These provocative actions only serve to exacerbate tensions at a pivotal moment when all focus should be on ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire, secure the release of all hostages, and create the conditions for broader regional stability,” the US Secretary of State added.
The French Foreign Ministry condemned Ben-Gvir’s visit, saying: “This new provocation is unacceptable.”
UN spokesman Farhan Haq described the incident as “unhelpful and unduly provocative,” adding: “We are against any efforts to change the status quo within the holy sites.”
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