Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has ignited widespread condemnation after visiting the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem and praying there, contravening a decades-old arrangement governing one of the Middle East’s most sensitive sites. Photos and videos of his visit reveal Ben-Gvir leading Jewish prayers at the compound, also known as the Temple Mount, in occupied East Jerusalem. This act breaks a long-standing agreement allowing Jews to visit the site but not pray.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office swiftly released a statement asserting that there had been no change to Israel’s policy of maintaining the status quo agreement, which permits only Muslim worship at the site. However, Ben-Gvir’s actions have drawn sharp rebukes from various parties, including Jordan, the custodian of the site, which termed the visit “an unacceptable provocation”. Hamas described it as “a deepening of the ongoing aggressions against our Palestinian people,” while a spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas stated that the visit “crossed all red lines”.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound holds immense historical and spiritual significance for both Jews and Muslims. For Jews, it is the holiest site, being the location of two Biblical temples. For Muslims, it is the third holiest place, believed to be where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. Israel captured the site from Jordan during the 1967 Middle East war. Under the status quo, Jordan retained its historical role as custodian, while Israel controlled security and access.
Ben-Gvir, an ultra-nationalist overseeing the police as National Security Minister, has previously visited the site but reportedly prayed openly there for the first time. During his visit, flanked by police officers, he condemned a recent Hamas video showing emaciated Israeli hostages, calling for their return. He also reiterated his stance on Israel occupying the entirety of the Gaza Strip and promoting “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians, a proposal experts deem would amount to forced displacement and a potential war crime.
The UK has sanctioned Ben-Gvir for “repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities” in the occupied West Bank. His actions have sparked a complex debate about religious freedom, tolerance, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Rabbi David Rosen, an Israeli expert in interreligious affairs, emphasized that Ben-Gvir’s actions violate the status quo between Israel and the Jordanian Wakf, stating, “anybody can visit the Temple Mount but only Muslims can pray there”.
Yisrael Medad, a longtime advocate for Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount, argued that the yearning to rebuild the destroyed temples is central to Jewish faith and practice. He believes it’s hypocritical to demand Israel allow people of every faith to pray at their holy sites while forbidding Jews to pray at their holiest site. The US State Department and Arab countries in the Middle East have expressed concern over Ben-Gvir’s comments and actions, with the State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stating that attempts to build a synagogue on the mount “would demonstrate blatant disregard for the historic status quo with respect to the holy sites in Jerusalem”.
In response to Ben-Gvir’s actions, Yoav Gallant, Israel’s Defense Minister, posted on X, “Challenging the status quo on the Temple Mount is a dangerous, unnecessary and irresponsible act. Ben-Gvir’s actions endanger the national security of the State of Israel and its international status”. The controversy surrounding Ben-Gvir’s visit highlights the delicate balance and tensions surrounding the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a site revered by millions worldwide.