Israel’s far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem on Sunday, stating that he aims to ensure greater access for Jewish worshippers, a move that drew strong condemnation from Jordan and the Palestinians; located in Jerusalem’s walled Old City, the compound is one of the most sensitive sites in the Middle East, known to Jews as the Temple Mount and regarded as their holiest site, while for Muslims it is the third-holiest site in Islam; under a delicate, decades-old arrangement, it is administered by a Jordanian religious foundation, where Jews are allowed to visit but not permitted to pray, and any suggestion of changing these rules has sparked violence in the past; during his visit, Ben-Gvir said he felt like “the owner” of the המקום and is pressuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take further steps; Jordan’s foreign ministry described the visit as a violation of the status quo and a desecration of the site’s sanctity, while the office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned that such actions could further destabilize the region; Ben-Gvir’s spokesman said he is seeking expanded access and prayer rights for Jewish visitors and that he also prayed at the site, although there was no immediate comment from Netanyahu’s office, which has previously maintained that there is no change in policy regarding the status quo at Al-Aqsa; notably, during the recent Iran war, religious sites including Al-Aqsa were largely closed to the public, and there were no immediate signs of unrest following Sunday’s visit.
Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gurion visits Al-Aqsa compound amid intense tensions
