JERUSALEM — Israel’s hardline Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has reignited tensions by calling for Jews to be permitted to pray at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. His remarks have drawn sharp criticism as ceasefire negotiators work to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
“The policy at the Temple Mount allows praying there. Period,” Ben-Gvir asserted in an interview with Army Radio. He questioned why Muslims are allowed to pray at the site while Jews are not, and expressed willingness to build a synagogue there if given the chance.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office quickly reaffirmed the official Israeli stance, which upholds longstanding rules that restrict non-Muslim prayer at the compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount. “There is no change to the status quo on the Temple Mount,” Netanyahu’s office stated.
The Temple Mount, located in Jerusalem’s Old City, is a highly sensitive area sacred to both Muslims and Jews, and has been a flashpoint for conflict. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, accused Ben-Gvir’s statements of attempting to incite a religious conflict.
Jordan’s foreign ministry, which oversees Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, condemned Ben-Gvir’s remarks as a breach of international law and called for international condemnation.
Ben-Gvir, who leads one of the hardline religious-nationalist parties in Netanyahu’s coalition, is known for his provocative statements. Despite criticism from some cabinet members and the potential risk to Israel’s international standing, Netanyahu’s reliance on Ben-Gvir’s party support makes it unlikely that the minister will face serious consequences.
Under the existing “status quo” arrangement, Israel permits Jewish visits to the site but prohibits prayer. Ben-Gvir’s comments come less than two weeks after he faced backlash for a controversial visit to the compound with supporters who reportedly prayed in defiance of the rules.
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant criticized Ben-Gvir’s comments as “dangerous” and harmful to Israel’s international position. Additionally, some Orthodox Jews have expressed concern that the site is too sacred for Jews to enter.
With ongoing negotiations to halt the Gaza conflict and address hostilities with Hezbollah, Ben-Gvir’s statements have been seen as potentially destabilizing.
