Israeli minister criticized for calling for prayer at Jerusalem holy site

A far-right Israeli minister has led hundreds of Israeli Jews into Jerusalem’s most controversial holiest site, many defying a long-standing Israeli government ban on Jewish prayer there.

The visit by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the al-Aqsa Mosque complex, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, was condemned as provocative by Palestinian leaders, as well as the United Nations and several Arab states.

“Our policy is to allow Jews to pray,” Mr. Ben-Gvir said in a video.

But the Israeli prime minister’s office insisted there would be no change to the status quo agreement that only allows Muslims to worship there.

The site is the holiest for Jews as it is home to two biblical shrines. It is the third holiest site for Muslims, who believe this is where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven.

Located in occupied East Jerusalem, the site was captured by Israel from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East war. Under the status quo, Jordan is allowed to continue its historical role as custodian of the site, while Israel retains control of security and access.

Palestinians accuse Israel of undermining the agreements and complain that in recent years Jewish tourists have often been seen praying without being stopped by Israeli police.

Videos shared on social media on Tuesday showed groups of Israeli Jews singing the Israeli national anthem, some carrying Israeli flags while others prostrated themselves in prayer at the edge of the holy site.

Visiting the complex escorted by Israeli police, Itamar Ben Gvir said “great progress” had been made in Israel’s “administration and sovereignty” there. “Our policy is to allow Jews to pray,” he added.

He also declared that Israel “must win the war” in the Gaza Strip and should not engage in ceasefire negotiations and hostage release deals to “bring Hamas to heel.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office later said the incident had “deviated from the status quo”.

“Israel’s policy on the Temple Mount has not changed; it has always been and will remain,” the report stressed.

In response to the statement, Mr. Ben-Gvir said his policy was to “allow Jews to worship freely everywhere.”

“There is no law that allows racial discrimination against Jews at the Temple Mount or anywhere else in Israel,” he added.

However, the Palestinian foreign ministry expressed great concern over what it called “the dangerous escalation arising from the extremist settler attacks on al-Aqsa Mosque”.

“The ministry will continue political efforts to address these provocations at various levels, while warning of their serious consequences for the conflict arena and the entire region,” a statement said.

Waqf, the Jordanian Muslim endowment organization that manages the site, said more than 2,000 Israelis had entered the complex and called on Muslims around the world to help maintain the status quo.

The Jordanian foreign ministry said the incident reflected “the determination of the Israeli government and its extremist members to disregard international law and Israel’s obligations as an occupying power”.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia also said the incident violated international law, with Egypt adding that Mr Ben-Gvir was trying to sabotage efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza.

UN spokesman Farhan Haq called the incident “unhelpful and unnecessarily provocative”, adding: “We reject any attempt to change the status quo inside sacred sites.”

“Any unilateral action like this that endangers that status quo is unacceptable. And not only is it unacceptable, it undermines what we consider to be a critical moment, as we work to bring this ceasefire agreement to fruition,” US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.