Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Wednesday (April 20th) ordered police forces to ban a controversial far-right lawmaker from approaching a Muslim area of Jerusalem’s Old City to prevent further violence.
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On Friday and Sunday, clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli police left more than 170 injured on the esplanade of the Mosques, the third holiest site in Islam and the holiest site in Judaism, as the celebrations of the Muslim month of Ramadan coincide. and Passover, the Jewish Passover.
“Based on the recommendations of the Minister of Internal Security and security officials, the Prime Minister has decided to prevent the arrival of MP Itamar Ben Gvir at Damascus Gate”
State press release.
Israeli ultranationalist organizations planned a march in the Old City of Jerusalem, where the esplanade is located, at the end of the day on Wednesday, despite a police ban. Far-right MP Itamar Ben Gvir, a member of the opposition and known for his incendiary statements about the Palestinians, announced his intention to participate in this march which must pass through the Damascus Gate, the main entrance to the Muslim quarter of the old Town.
Protection of “human lives” in “danger”
“Based on the recommendations of the Minister of Internal Security and security officials, the Prime Minister decided to prevent the arrival of MP Itamar Ben Gvir at Damascus Gate“Said the services of Naftali Bennett in a press release. “I have no intention of allowing petty politics to endanger human lives.“said the Prime Minister. “I will not allow Ben Gvir’s political provocation to endanger Israeli soldiers and police, and further burden their mission.»
The right calls for a compromise
Naftali Bennett’s coalition government is weakened by recent violence in Jerusalem, particularly on the esplanade of the Mosques, and attacks in Israel. The Arab Raam party, the first in history to support an Israeli government, on Sunday suspended its support for the coalition because of the violence.
For their part, right-wing MPs within the coalition are under pressure to let go of a government deemed too favorable to the Arab minority, according to part of the opposition. “Bennett, coalition security is not state security“, reacted Wednesday afternoon on Twitter Itamar Ben Gvir, threatening to go to Damascus Gate if the police “did not allow compromiseon the route of the controversial march.
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Last year, the Islamist movement Hamas launched salvoes of rockets towards Israeli territory when a march bringing together ultranationalist organizations was to begin in the Old City of Jerusalem.
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