Politics Israel's police minister outrages again with Temple Mount visit
Israel's far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has once again provoked with a visit to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. He called for Jewish prayer to be allowed at the site.
13.08.2024, 13:20
SDA
In a video filmed on site and published on X, Ben-Gvir also once again spoke out against negotiations with Hamas on a ceasefire in the Gaza war and the release of the Israeli hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip.
The Temple Mount (Al-Haram al-Sharif) with the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam. However, it is also sacred to Jews because two Jewish temples used to stand there. The Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem is under Muslim administration, while Israel is responsible for security. According to an agreement with the Muslim authorities, Jews are allowed to visit the site, but not to pray there. However, this is repeatedly violated.
Following Ben-Gvir's visit, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced that Israel's policy on the Temple Mount had not changed. "There is no private policy of a minister."
Prayers can be heard in the background of the video published by Ben-Gvir. Israeli media also published footage purporting to show dozens of Jewish worshippers praying during the minister's visit. Ben-Gvir had criticized the agreement with the Muslim authorities in the past as "racist" and discriminatory against Jews. The Palestinians fear that Israel wants to extend its control of the holy site.
According to the video message, Ben-Gvir came on the occasion of the Jewish day of fasting and mourning, Tisha BeAv, on which religious Jews mourn the destruction of the two ancient temples in Jerusalem almost 2,000 years ago. According to Israeli media, a total of more than 1,600 Jews came to the Temple Mount in the morning. The Palestinian Authority condemned this.
Opposition leader Jair Lapid criticized Ben-Gvir's "campaign on the Temple Mount", which contradicted the position of the country's security forces and endangered lives. He spoke of a "group of irresponsible extremists" within the government.
