Ben Gvir proclaims ownership of Al-Aqsa as push for more Jewish access intensifies
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said during a raid on the Al-Aqsa compound that he feels like the 'owner' of the site and pressed for greater access and prayer rights for Jews, as Israel reopened the mosque to Palestinian worshippers after a more than month-long closure and amid ongoing efforts to expand Jewish presence at the site, which is governed by a fragile status quo that generally restricts Jewish prayer there; the move drew condemnations from Jordan and Palestinian leaders who warn it could destabilize the region as ultranationalist visits continue.
