Middle East Monitor / May 21, 2023
Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir on Sunday entered Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem, Anadolu reports.
Ben-Gvir entered Al-Aqsa Mosque’s Al-Haram al-Sharif area early in the morning with special guards and under the protection of the Israeli forces.
In his video message from the courtyard of Al-Aqsa, he claimed Israel’s ownership of the complex and said threats from Hamas make no sense. “We own Jerusalem and all the land of Israel.”
This was the second time he entered the complex since taking office as national security minister in the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last December.
Ben-Gvir previously entered Al-Aqsa Mosque on January 3, days after he took office, and with this action, he became the first Israeli minister on duty to enter the mosque in five years.
He holds far-right views on the Palestinians and has called for their displacement. He has repeatedly joined Israeli settlers in storming the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem.
For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents the world’s third-holiest site. Jews call the area the Temple Mount, saying it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.
Last November, Israeli President Isaac Herzog warned in a leaked audio that “the whole world is worried” about Ben-Gvir’s far-right views.
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Palestine warns of ‘religious war’ after Israeli minister’s visit to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa
Middle East Monitor / May 21, 2023
The Palestinian Authority (PA) on Sunday strongly condemned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem, Anadolu reports.
The far-right minister had forced his way into the flashpoint site early Sunday under Israeli police protection.
“Any harm to Al-Aqsa Mosque is playing with fire and will drag the region into a religious war with undesirable consequences that will affect everyone,” PA spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said in a statement.
He stressed that such acts “will not impose Israeli sovereignty over the site.”
The Palestinian spokesman appealed for immediate action from the US and the international community to maintain the status quo at Al-Aqsa complex.
The status quo allows Muslims to worship at Al-Aqsa compound and followers of other religions to visit the site.
Since 2003, Israel has allowed settlers into the compound almost on a daily basis with the exception of Fridays and Saturdays.
For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents Islam’s third-holiest site. Jews call the area the Temple Mount, saying it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.
It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.
