In recent years, the restrictions at the compound have been increasingly flouted by hardline religious nationalists like Ben Gvir, prompting sometimes violent reactions from Palestinians.
Since taking office as national security minister in December 2022, Ben Gvir has visited the disputed holy site at least six times, drawing severe condemnations.
The Al-Aqsa mosque compound is administered by Jordan, but access to the site itself is controlled by Israeli security forces.
Ben Gvir told Army Radio that Jews should be allowed to pray in the compound.
“Arabs can pray wherever they want, so Jews should be able to pray wherever they want,” he said, claiming that the “current policy allows Jews to pray at this site”.
“DANGEROUS”
Jordan hit back at Ben Gvir’s latest remarks.
“Al-Aqsa and the holy sites are a pure place of worship for Muslims,” Jordanian foreign ministry spokesman Sufian Qudah said in a statement.
“Jordan will take all necessary measures to stop the attacks on the holy sites” and “is preparing the necessary legal files to take action in international courts against the attacks on the holy sites”, Qudah said.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar also condemned the Israeli minister’s comments.
“The Kingdom stresses the need to respect the historical and legal status of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque,” Riyadh’s foreign ministry said in a statement posted to social media, calling Ben Gvir’s remarks “extremist and inflammatory”.
Qatar’s foreign ministry likewise denounced the call to build a synagogue at the Al-Aqsa compound as “a provocation to the feelings of Muslims around the world” and warned it could undermine efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.
Source: CNA
