- Israel’s new security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has visited the Temple Mount in Jerusalem – despite warnings from the Palestinian side.
- The Palestinian Foreign Ministry described the visit as an “unprecedented provocation”.
- Ben-Gvir wrote on Twitter that the Temple Mount is open to all.
According to Israeli media reports, the security minister came to the holy site in the old town in the early morning, accompanied by the police. Hamas, the Islamist Palestinian organization ruling in the Gaza Strip, had previously warned against such a visit by Ben-Gvir and threatened a new serious escalation.
After the visit, Ben-Gvir tweeted that as a member of the Israeli government, he did not submit to “an organization of harmful killers.” “The Temple Mount is open to all, and if Hamas thinks their threats will deter me, then they must understand that times have changed.”
Strong criticism of Ben-Gvir’s visit
The Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam. It is also sacred to Jews because there used to be two Jewish temples there. The Temple Mount is under Muslim administration while Israel is responsible for security. According to an agreement with the Muslim authorities, Jews can visit the facility but not pray there. However, there are always violations. Ben-Gvir had criticized this agreement as “racist” and as discrimination against Jews.
Legend:
Israeli police officers secure the site of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City for Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit to the Temple Mount.
Keystone/AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo
The Palestinians accuse Israel of wanting to expand its control of the holy site. From the Palestinian side, Ben-Gvir’s visit is seen as a deliberate provocation. Former Israeli Prime Minister and opposition leader Jair Lapid previously tweeted: “Itamar Ben-Gvir must not visit the Temple Mount, this is a provocation that will lead to violence that will endanger and cost lives.”
The second Palestinian uprising, the Intifada, began in 2000 after a demonstrative visit by then opposition leader Ariel Sharon to the Temple Mount. Ben-Gvir of the far-right Ozma Jehudit party had previously been convicted of racist hate speech and supporting a Jewish terrorist organization. He is considered a political arsonist, especially with regard to the Palestinians. He is part of Benjamin Netanyahu’s new right-wing religious government, which was sworn in on Thursday in Israel.