Israel’s far-right leader and the country’s security minister Itamar Ben-Givir entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque along with hundreds of Jews this month. He prayed there despite the ban on Jews praying in the mosque. He has once again made a statement about the Al-Aqsa Mosque which is causing controversy. He has demanded that Jews be given the right to pray in the mosque premises.
Speaking to Israel’s Army Radio, Ben Givir said, ‘The policy of Temple Mount (Jews call the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex Temple Mount) allows us to pray there. The Prime Minister knew that when I joined the government, there would be no such discrimination against me. If Muslims are allowed to offer prayers there, then why can’t a Jew do so?’
During the interview, he was asked if he would build a synagogue (Jewish place of worship) in the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex if possible, to which Ben Gvir replied ‘yes’.
Statement from PM Netanyahu’s office immediately after the interview
Soon after Ben Gvir’s interview, a statement was issued by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office clarifying the situation of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The statement said that the office accepts the decades-old ban on non-Muslims praying inside the mosque premises.
Netanyahu’s office said, ‘There has been no change in the status quo on Temple Mount.’
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is one of the most sensitive places in the Middle East. The complex is sacred to both Muslims and Jews. The mosque has repeatedly been the cause of conflict between Palestine and Israel.
The Al Aqsa Mosque is located at the third holiest site in Islam, known to Muslims as Al-Haram Al Sharif. Jews and non-Muslims are allowed inside the mosque complex but are not allowed to pray there.
What did Palestine say on Ben Gvir’s statement
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, reacted to Ben Gvir’s demand for Jews to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex. He said that the call to tamper with the status of Al-Aqsa aims to “drag the region into a religious war that will burn everyone.”
At the same time, the Foreign Ministry of Jordan, the custodian of Al-Aqsa Mosque, said that the country considers Ben-Givir’s statement as ‘a violation of international law which requires a clear international stand to condemn and counter it.’
Israeli ministers also criticized Ben-Givir’s statement
Netanyahu’s coalition government includes two hardline religious-nationalist parties, one of whose leaders, Ben Gvir, has a long record of making inflammatory remarks. Ben Gvir’s supporters appear to stand by his statements, but the Israeli government distances itself from his statements.
Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kish said that any change in the status quo at the mosque, especially in times of war (war between Israel and Palestinian organization Hamas), could be a wrong decision.
“Minister Ben Gvir’s irresponsible statement in the media on this issue is unnecessary and foolish,” he said in a statement on X.
At the same time, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant has also expressed displeasure over Ben Givir’s statement. He said, ‘Challenging the status quo on the Temple Mount is a dangerous, unnecessary and irresponsible act. Ben Givir’s actions endanger Israel and its international status.’
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)