Ben-Gvir joins Israelis at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has joined a group of Israelis who have gone to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, according to footage verified by Al Jazeera.
Ben-Gvir is joined by far-right lawmaker Yitzhak Wasserlauf, who heads the Ministry for the Development of the Negev and Galilee.
Ben-Gvir has previously said he believes Jews should have the right to pray at the Muslim holy site, which both Israeli law and the compound’s “status quo” regulations prohibit.
Far-right Israelis making ‘show of dominance’ at Al-Aqsa Mosque
The [Israeli march at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound] is an annual event to commemorate a temple that is said to have stood on the site centuries ago.
What we are seeing here that is new is the ritual practices. The singing, the lying down, the prayers, the carrying of [Israeli] flags – all of these acts are in violation of agreements governing the holy site. They are no doubt going to be seen as provocations.
This is an outward show of dominance but far-right Israelis, including Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who joined.
No doubt the optics of a far-right [Israeli] leader against the backdrop of one of Islam’s holiest sites is unlikely to help any future negotiations [on a Gaza ceasefire] that may or may not happen.
Ben-Gvir pushes for ‘sovereignty’ of Al-Aqsa
As we’ve been reporting, Israel’s’ far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has joined right-wing Israeli activists at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Ben-Gvir has now given a speech to fellow marchers at the compound, telling them they have made “significant progress” in gaining “sovereignty” over the site, which Israeli law prohibits Jews from praying in.
He also used the occasion to underline his hardline stance against Gaza ceasefire negotiations, saying Israel should push towards full victory, bringing Hamas “to its knees” rather than send negotiators to another round of talks.
Ben-Gvir regularly calls to change the “status quo” governing Al-Aqsa, which many Israelis refer to as the “Temple Mount”, a position rejected by Netanyahu.
Israel’s Lapid blasts Ben-Gvir for Al-Aqsa Mosque march
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has condemned Ben-Gvir for joining Israeli far-right activists at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
In a post on X, Lapid said Ben-Gvir was endangering the safety of Israeli citizens and security forces with his Al-Aqsa Mosque “campaign”.
“This group of irresponsible extremists in the government is actively trying to drag Israel into a full-scale regional war,” Lapid said. “These people are unfit to govern a country.”
קמפיין הבחירות של בן גביר בהר הבית, בניגוד מוחלט לעמדת גורמי הבטחון, בזמן מלחמה, מסכן את חיי אזרחי ישראל ואת חיי החיילים והשוטרים שלנו.
חבורת הקיצונים חסרי האחריות שנמצאת בממשלה מנסה בכוח לגרור את ישראל למלחמה אזורית כוללת. האנשים האלה לא יכולים לנהל מדינה.
— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) August 13, 2024
Translation: Ben-Gvir’s election campaign on the Temple Mount [a hill in Jerusalem’s Old City, location of Al-Aqsa Mosque], in complete disregard of security officials’ positions and during wartime, endangers the lives of Israeli citizens as well as our soldiers and police officers. This group of irresponsible extremists in the government is actively trying to drag Israel into a full-scale regional war. These people are unfit to govern a country.
Arab states condemn Israelis’ storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque
The foreign ministries of Palestine, Egypt, Jordan and Qatar have all condemned the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque today by crowds of Israelis, including two far-right ministers.
In its statement, Qatar’s foreign ministry said the march on the mosque – one of Islam’s holiest sites – was an attempt to “harm its religious and historical status”.
It is “not only an attack on Palestinians, but on millions of Muslims around the world”, said the ministry. It added that the “violations” could impair efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and called on the international community to “act urgently to stop these attacks”.
