August, 26, 2024 -
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Israeli settlers, under police protection, stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, one of Islam’s holiest sites, sparking renewed tensions.
Israeli settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Monday, according to a report from the Palestinian news agency Wafa. The incursion, protected by Israeli police officers, has become a regular occurrence despite Jewish law forbidding entry to the site due to its sacred status.
Israeli authorities have also repeatedly barred Palestinians from attending Friday prayers at the site since October 7, forcing many to pray in the streets near Jerusalem al-Quds’ Old City. Israeli forces have additionally been reported to have attacked Palestinian worshippers inside the mosque.
Meanwhile, Israeli Army Radio, citing national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, reported that he intends to build a synagogue within the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a site known to Jews as the Temple Mount.
Ben-Gvir's remarks have been met with criticism. Opposition leader Yair Lapid condemned the regime's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for allowing the far-right minister to remain in the government, stating on X (formerly Twitter), "The whole region sees Netanyahu’s weakness against Ben-Gvir. He can’t control the government even when it comes to a clear attempt to destabilize our national security. There is no policy, no strategy, no government really."
Tensions within the Israeli government have escalated over the issue. War minister Yoav Gallant expressed concern, posting on X that altering the status quo of the Al-Aqsa Mosque would be a "dangerous, unnecessary and irresponsible act." He warned that Ben-Gvir's actions jeopardize the Israeli regime’s national security and international standing.
In response, Ben-Gvir accused Gallant of bowing to Hamas and pursuing a "defeatist" policy against Hezbollah.
The supermoon rises behind the Dome of the Rock shrine at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem, Monday, Aug. 19, 2024. (AP)
26 August 2024 AD ـ 21 Safar 1446 AH
Israel's hardline Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir repeated a call for Jews to be allowed to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, drawing sharp criticism for inflaming tensions as ceasefire negotiators seek a deal to halt fighting in Gaza.
"The policy allows prayers on the Temple Mount, there is equal law between Jews and Muslims - I would build a synagogue there," Ben-Gvir was quoted as saying by Army Radio in a post on social media platform X, following an interview on Monday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office immediately put out a statement restating the official Israeli position, which accepts decades-old rules restricting non-Muslim prayer at the mosque compound, known as Temple Mount to Jews, who revere it as the site of two ancient temples.
"There is no change to the status quo on the Temple Mount," Netanyahu's office said.
The hillside compound, in Jerusalem's Old City, is one of the most sensitive locations in the Middle East, holy for both Muslims and Jews, and the trigger for repeated conflict.
Ben-Gvir, head of one of two hardline religious-nationalist parties in Netanyahu's coalition, has a long record of making inflammatory statements appreciated by his own supporters, but conflicting with the government's official line.
Monday's comment was condemned by some of his own cabinet colleagues, but Netanyahu's dependence on the support of Ben-Gvir's party to hold his right-wing coalition together means that the minister is unlikely to be sacked or face any significant penalty.
Monday's comments came less than two weeks after he triggered outrage by visiting the compound with hundreds of supporters, many of whom appeared to be praying openly in defiance of the status quo rules.
With negotiators trying to reach a deal to halt the fighting in Gaza and bring back 109 Israeli and foreign hostages, and with tensions running high with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in southern Lebanon, Ben-Gvir's comments were criticized for weakening Israel's position.
"Challenging the status quo on the Temple Mount is a dangerous, unnecessary and irresponsible act. Ben-Gvir's actions endanger the state of Israel and its international status," Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who has clashed repeatedly with Ben-Gvir, said in a statement on X.
Ben-Gvir has also been criticized by some Orthodox Jews, who consider the site too holy a place for Jews to enter.
Jordan condemns Israeli minister Ben-Gvir's call to build synagogue inside Al-Aqsa Mosque
Foreign Ministry calls minister's statement 'violation of international law and unacceptable provocation that requires clear-cut international position condemning it'
Laith Al-Jnaidi |26.08.2024 - Update : 26.08.2024
AMMAN, Jordan
Jordan on Monday condemned a call by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to build a synagogue inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem.
In a statement, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry called his statement as "a violation of international law and an unacceptable provocation that requires a clear-cut international position condemning it."
The statement added that Ben-Gvir's statement "fuels extremism and endeavors to change the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites through imposing new facts and practices driven by a bigoted exclusionary narrative."
It stressed that the entire Al-Aqsa Mosque site is an exclusive place of worship for Muslims, and the Jordan-run Jerusalem Waqf Department is the legal entity supervising Al-Aqsa Mosque affairs.
The ministry affirmed that it will move international courts against the Israeli attacks on the holy sites.
Ben-Gvir claimed Monday that Jews have the right to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque, saying that he would build a synagogue at the flashpoint site.
It was the first time for the Israeli minister to openly speak about building a synagogue inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque. However, he has repeatedly called in recent months for allowing Jewish prayers at the site.
His call came amid repeated incursions into the complex by illegal Israeli settlers under police protection.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is considered the third holiest site in Islam. Jews refer to the area as the Temple Mount, believing it to be the location of two ancient Jewish temples.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. In 1980, Israel annexed the entire city, a move that has never been recognized by the international community.
Israel has faced international condemnation over its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip that has killed over 40,400 people since an Oct. 7 Hamas attack, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.
*Writing by Ahmed Asmar
Egypt slams Israeli minister for call to build synagogue inside Al-Aqsa Mosque
Foreign Ministry says Ben-Gvir's statement escalates tensions, hinders Gaza cease-fire efforts
Ibrahim al-Khazen |26.08.2024 -
ISTANBUL
Egypt on Monday denounced Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for a call to build a synagogue inside Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, saying his statement is heightening tension in the occupied Palestinian territories.
In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Israel is legally responsible for adhering to the status quo at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and preserving Islamic and Christian sanctities.
It also demanded Israel comply with its obligations as an occupying power, and "stop such provocative statements aimed at further escalation and tension in the region."
The ministry added that Ben-Gvir's statement against Al-Aqsa Mosque further complicates and aggravates the situation across the Palestinian territories, and hinders efforts to reach a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.
The statement also said his statement poses "a great danger" to the future of the final settlement of the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Ben-Gvir claimed Monday that Jews have the right to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque, saying that he would build a synagogue at the flashpoint site.
It was the first time for the Israeli minister to openly speak about building a synagogue inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque. However, he has repeatedly called in recent months for allowing Jewish prayers at the site.
His call came amid repeated incursions into the complex by illegal Israeli settlers under police protection.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is considered the third holiest site in Islam. Jews refer to the area as the Temple Mount, believing it to be the location of two ancient Jewish temples.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. In 1980, Israel annexed the entire city, a move that has never been recognized by the international community.
Israel has faced international condemnation over its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip that has killed over 40,400 people since an Oct. 7 Hamas attack, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.
*Writing by Ahmed Asmar
Foreign Ministry calls minister's statement 'violation of international law and unacceptable provocation that requires clear-cut international position condemning it'
Laith Al-Jnaidi |26.08.2024 - Update : 26.08.2024
AMMAN, Jordan
Jordan on Monday condemned a call by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to build a synagogue inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem.
In a statement, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry called his statement as "a violation of international law and an unacceptable provocation that requires a clear-cut international position condemning it."
The statement added that Ben-Gvir's statement "fuels extremism and endeavors to change the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites through imposing new facts and practices driven by a bigoted exclusionary narrative."
It stressed that the entire Al-Aqsa Mosque site is an exclusive place of worship for Muslims, and the Jordan-run Jerusalem Waqf Department is the legal entity supervising Al-Aqsa Mosque affairs.
The ministry affirmed that it will move international courts against the Israeli attacks on the holy sites.
Ben-Gvir claimed Monday that Jews have the right to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque, saying that he would build a synagogue at the flashpoint site.
It was the first time for the Israeli minister to openly speak about building a synagogue inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque. However, he has repeatedly called in recent months for allowing Jewish prayers at the site.
His call came amid repeated incursions into the complex by illegal Israeli settlers under police protection.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is considered the third holiest site in Islam. Jews refer to the area as the Temple Mount, believing it to be the location of two ancient Jewish temples.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. In 1980, Israel annexed the entire city, a move that has never been recognized by the international community.
Israel has faced international condemnation over its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip that has killed over 40,400 people since an Oct. 7 Hamas attack, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.
*Writing by Ahmed Asmar
Egypt slams Israeli minister for call to build synagogue inside Al-Aqsa Mosque
Foreign Ministry says Ben-Gvir's statement escalates tensions, hinders Gaza cease-fire efforts
Ibrahim al-Khazen |26.08.2024 -
ISTANBUL
Egypt on Monday denounced Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for a call to build a synagogue inside Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, saying his statement is heightening tension in the occupied Palestinian territories.
In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Israel is legally responsible for adhering to the status quo at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and preserving Islamic and Christian sanctities.
It also demanded Israel comply with its obligations as an occupying power, and "stop such provocative statements aimed at further escalation and tension in the region."
The ministry added that Ben-Gvir's statement against Al-Aqsa Mosque further complicates and aggravates the situation across the Palestinian territories, and hinders efforts to reach a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.
The statement also said his statement poses "a great danger" to the future of the final settlement of the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Ben-Gvir claimed Monday that Jews have the right to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque, saying that he would build a synagogue at the flashpoint site.
It was the first time for the Israeli minister to openly speak about building a synagogue inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque. However, he has repeatedly called in recent months for allowing Jewish prayers at the site.
His call came amid repeated incursions into the complex by illegal Israeli settlers under police protection.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is considered the third holiest site in Islam. Jews refer to the area as the Temple Mount, believing it to be the location of two ancient Jewish temples.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. In 1980, Israel annexed the entire city, a move that has never been recognized by the international community.
Israel has faced international condemnation over its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip that has killed over 40,400 people since an Oct. 7 Hamas attack, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.
*Writing by Ahmed Asmar
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