All articles tagged with #temple mount
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, accompanied by settlers and security forces, stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, performed prayers, and urged that a Jewish temple be established on the site under the 1967 status quo that bars non-Muslim worship, a move condemned by Palestinian authorities and seen as escalating tensions at Islam’s third-holiest site.
Jordan warns of an imminent Israeli challenge to the al-Aqsa custodianship at the Temple Mount and has convened an emergency foreign ministers meeting with Arab, Islamic, and allied states as settler raids and a new Temple Mount police unit raise fears the status quo could be breached and trigger a broader religious conflict amid regional tensions and domestic politics.
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir joined thousands of Jewish extremists as they stormed the al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem, waving flags and praying under police protection, challenging the long-standing status quo that bars non-Muslim prayer at the site and signaling further consolidation of changes he has pushed for; the visit drew condemnation from Jordan and others and heightened fears of renewed tensions in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem's al‑Aqsa compound faces renewed strain as far‑right Israeli figures publicly pray and advocate greater Jewish access, challenging the long‑standing Status Quo that reserves the site for Muslim worship. While the government says there are no changes and non‑Muslims may visit, experts warn that altering governance or allowing broader Jewish prayer could provoke renewed violence, drawing international concern from Jordan, Gulf states, Egypt and others.
Israeli nationalists marked Jerusalem Day with a state-supported march through East Jerusalem, chanting anti-Arab slogans and clashing with Palestinians; national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir unfurled an Israeli flag at the al-Aqsa compound as counter-protesters protected Palestinian residents amid rising tensions.
Israeli far-right Minister Ben-Gvir's provocative visit to the Temple Mount amid ongoing Gaza conflict appears aimed at sabotaging a potential ceasefire deal, while Netanyahu balances internal and external pressures amidst escalating tensions and regional conflicts involving Syria and the Druze community.
Thousands of Israeli nationalists marched through Jerusalem's Old City, chanting anti-Arab slogans and marking Jerusalem Day, amid heightened tensions and violence in the city, with clashes over holy sites and increased Jewish visits to the Temple Mount, reflecting ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflicts over Jerusalem's status.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided against imposing new restrictions on Palestinian Muslims' access to the Temple Mount during the first week of Ramadan, maintaining similar entry numbers as in previous years. The decision, made amid ongoing conflict, will be reassessed weekly based on security considerations. Netanyahu emphasized Israel's commitment to upholding freedom of worship while ensuring security. The move has drawn both support and criticism, with Turkish President Erdogan warning of "very serious consequences" if access to holy sites is restricted.
U.S. officials are concerned that a series of worrying trends, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's capitulation to far-right coalition partners over Muslim access to the Temple Mount during Ramadan, could lead to a major escalation in the Middle East in the coming weeks.
Clashes broke out between police and far-right Jewish nationalists during a march through Jerusalem's Old City, where activists called for "full Jewish control" over the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa compound. The march, which passed through the Muslim Quarter, saw racist abuse being hurled by the participants.
Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri predicts that the hostages kidnapped by the group during their recent cross-border assault will be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. He claims that the assault was a reaction to alleged desecration of the al-Aqsa compound on Jerusalem's Temple Mount and accuses Israel of planning to impose a new reality on the site. Al-Arouri also expresses hope that Palestinians in the West Bank will join the fight and states that Hamas is prepared for all options, including an Israeli ground invasion.
Itamar Ben Gvir, a far-right Israeli politician, visited the Temple Mount on Tisha B'Av, a Jewish day of mourning, drawing criticism from Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Hamas, and the US. Ben Gvir's visit marked his third as a cabinet minister and has sparked anger from the Arab world. Jordan warned that Israeli actions at the site threaten to escalate violence, while the US Embassy in Israel emphasized the importance of preserving the status quo. The Palestinian Authority accused Israel of attempting to Judaize the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Hamas condemned the visit as a dangerous escalation. The Saudi Foreign Ministry also condemned the visit.
Three Palestinians were killed and six others were wounded during an Israeli army raid in a West Bank refugee camp. The Biden administration criticized Israel's latest act of settlement expansion and expressed concerns about ultranationalist National Security Minister Itmar Ben-Gvir's visit to the Temple Mount. Israel has stepped up raids in response to a spate of Palestinian attacks. The Palestinians seek the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for a future independent state, with east Jerusalem as its capital. Most of the international community considers Israeli settlements to be illegal and obstacles to peace.
The US State Department has criticized Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir for his "provocative" visit to the Temple Mount, accusing him of using "inflammatory rhetoric" and politicizing the holy site. The statement also condemned Israel for lifting a ban on Israelis entering the area of the former Homesh outpost, paving the way for settlers to return and build a formal settlement there. The US reaffirmed its commitment to the status quo agreement governing the Temple Mount and to Jordan's "special role" regarding Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the sensitive Jerusalem holy site, known as the Temple Mount to Jews and the Al-Aqsa Mosque to Muslims, drawing condemnations from Palestinians and Jordan. Ben-Gvir praised the police presence at the site, which has been a source of tension between Israelis and Palestinians for decades. Palestinians consider the mosque a national symbol and view such visits as provocative and as a potential precursor to Israel seizing control over the compound. The ultranationalist Ben-Gvir has long called for greater Jewish access to the holy site.