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Israel’s new far-right nationwide safety minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem on Tuesday – a provocative transfer that drew condemnation from Palestinians and neighbouring Jordan.
“The Temple Mount is open to all,” Ben-Gvir stated on Twitter, utilizing the Jewish identify for the location. Video footage confirmed him strolling on the periphery of the compound, surrounded by a heavy safety element and flanked by a fellow Orthodox Jew.
An Israeli official stated Ben Gvir’s 15-minute go to to Al Aqsa compound complied with a so-called establishment association, relationship again a long time, that enables non-Muslims to go to on situation they don’t pray. The go to handed with out incident.
Jordan’s overseas ministry condemned the go to to Al Aqsa as a “violation of its sanctity,” including that it additionally violated worldwide regulation.
The Palestinian overseas ministry stated it “strongly condemns the storming of Al-Aqsa mosque by the extremist minister Ben-Gvir and views it as unprecedented provocation and a harmful escalation of the battle.”
The rise of Ben-Gvir, chief of the Jewish Energy social gathering, to affix a religious-nationalist coalition beneath re-elected Benjamin Netanyahu has deepened Palestinian anger about their long-failed efforts to safe a state.
His go to dangers stoking tensions additional after an upsurge in violence within the occupied West Financial institution up to now 12 months.
Hours earlier, Israeli troops shot useless a Palestinian teenager in a conflict in close by Bethlehem, medical officers and witnesses stated. Israel’s military stated troops fired on Palestinians who threw improvised explosives, rocks and firebombs at them.
Ben-Gvir didn’t strategy the mosque itself, which is an emblem for Palestinian nationalism and their bid for statehood, a purpose that appears ever bleaker with Ben-Gvir and different far-right allies in workplace in Netanyahu’s new authorities.
A spokesman for Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist group that rejects coexistence with Israel, stated of Ben-Gvir’s go to: “A continuation of this behaviour will carry all events nearer to a giant conflict.”
The Al Aqsa compound, recognized to Muslims because the Noble Sanctuary, is Islam’s third-holiest web site. It’s also Judaism’s most sacred web site, a vestige of two historical temples of the religion.
On Tuesday, pious Jews fasted to commemorate a Babylonian siege on the primary of these temples, within the sixth century BC.
Ben-Gvir’s cupboard duties embody overseeing Israeli police who’re formally tasked with implementing the ban on Jewish prayer on the compound. He as soon as advocated ending that ban, however has been extra non-committal on the matter since aligning with Netanyahu.
Israel deems all of Jerusalem its indivisible capital – a standing not recognised internationally. Palestinians need East Jerusalem, the place the compound is positioned, as capital of a future state additionally taking within the West Financial institution and Gaza Strip.
“If Hamas thinks that it could deter me with threats, it ought to perceive that instances have modified,” Ben-Gvir stated on Twitter. “There’s a authorities in Jerusalem!”
Netanyahu, now in his sixth time period as premier, has pledged to protect the “establishment” round holy websites.
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