Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Israel's Ben-Gvir slams decision banning settlers from Al-Aqsa until end of Ramadan


Itamar Ben-Gvir (C)[AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP/Getty Images]

April 12, 2023 

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir slammed an Israeli government decision to ban non-Muslims, including illegal settlers, from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound until the end of Ramadan, Army Radio reported.

Ben-Gvir said that the decision to prevent settlers from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque is a grave mistake that will lead to escalation.

Weakening the police force in Al-Aqsa will create a fertile ground for massive demonstrations and incitement to kill Jews and throw stones at settlers at the Buraq Wall (Western Wall), he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday announced that a ban was being put in place on non-Muslims entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound until the end of Ramadan.

Netanyahu's office said that the decision was reached after a comprehensive assessment of the security situation. The decision was unanimously recommended by the minister of defence, the police chief, the head of the intelligence service Shin Bet and the police commissioner.

OPINION: Israel is in a downward spiral of self-destruction

Lapid: Israel's Ben-Gvir seeks to set Middle East on fire


Leader of the Opposition Yair Lapid speaks as Israeli people gather in front of parliament to protest against judicial reform plans during a preliminary vote in Jerusalem on February 13, 2023
. [Saeed Qaq - Anadolu Agency]

April 9, 2023 

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid on Sunday blamed the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the current tension at Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem, Anadolu reports.

Speaking to the Israeli Public Radio, Lapid accused far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of seeking to set the Middle East on fire.

He blamed Israeli police violence against worshippers inside Al-Aqsa complex to the "irresponsible behavior" of the Israeli government.

"This is what happens when you give this kind of responsibility to the most radical man in the State of Israel," Lapid said, in reference to Ben-Gvir.

Lapid went on to accuse Ben-Gvir of being a "Tik Tok clown who only wants to set the Middle East on fire."

Early on Sunday, Israeli police forces entered into the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex to secure settler intrusions into the flashpoint site.

Tension escalated across the Palestinian territories in recent days after Israeli forces stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in East Jerusalem and forcibly removed worshippers on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Israeli raids on the mosque triggered rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, with Israeli retaliating with air and artillery shelling.

On Saturday, Israeli police recommended halting settler intrusions into the Al-Aqsa complex during the last 10 days of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan to ease tension, but the recommendation was rejected by Ben-Gvir, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported.

For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents the world's third-holiest site. Jews, for their part, call the area the Temple Mount, saying it was the site of two ancient Jewish temples.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.

Lapid: 'Making Ben-Gvir responsible for Al-Aqsa Mosque led to disaster'

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