Ultranationalist Israeli minister visits flashpoint Jerusalem holy web site for first time since taking office1 hour in the past

An ultranationalist Israeli Cupboard minister on Tuesday visited a flashpoint Jerusalem holy web site for the primary time since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new far-right authorities took workplace final week. The go to drew fierce condemnation from throughout the Muslim world and a powerful rebuke from the US.

Netanyahu tried to minimize the incident, saying it was in step with longstanding understandings on the disputed holy web site. However the go to by Nationwide Safety Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir unnerved each enemies and allies which have expressed sturdy misgivings concerning the far-right make-up of the brand new authorities.

Ben-Gvir, a West Financial institution settler chief who attracts inspiration from a racist rabbi, entered the location identified to Jews because the Temple Mount and to Muslims because the Noble Sanctuary flanked by a big contingent of cops. His plans to go to, introduced earlier within the week, had drawn threats from Gaza’s Hamas militant group.

“The Israeli authorities received’t give up to a murderous group, to a vile terrorist group,” Ben-Gvir, identified for his anti-Arab rhetoric and provocative stunts, mentioned in a video clip taken in the course of the go to.

Describing the Temple Mount as “crucial place for the Jewish individuals,” he decried what he referred to as “racist discrimination” in opposition to Jewish visits to the location. With the Dome of the Rock within the background and waving his fingers on the digital camera, he mentioned the visits would proceed.

The positioning is the holiest web site in Judaism, residence to the traditional biblical Temples. Right this moment, it homes the Al Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest web site in Islam. Since Israel captured the location in 1967, Jews have been allowed to go to however not pray there.

Ben-Gvir has lengthy referred to as for higher Jewish entry to the holy web site. Palestinians contemplate the mosque a nationwide image and think about such visits as provocative and as a possible precursor to Israel seizing management over the compound. Most rabbis forbid Jews from praying on the location, however there was a rising motion lately of Jews who assist worship there.

The positioning has been the scene of frequent clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli safety forces, most not too long ago in April final 12 months.

Though Tuesday’s go to handed with out incident, U.S. Ambassador Tom Nides mentioned he “has been very clear in conversations with the Israeli authorities on the difficulty of preserving the established order in Jerusalem’s holy websites. Actions that stop which can be unacceptable.”

The United Arab Emirates, which established full diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020, “strongly condemned the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyard by an Israeli minister below the safety of Israeli forces.” It referred to as on Israel to “halt severe and provocative violations happening there.”

Bahrain, which additionally acknowledged Israel on the identical time, didn’t instantly acknowledge the incident.

Saudi Arabia, a strong Arab nation with which Netanyahu hopes to ascertain comparable ties, condemned the Israeli minister’s motion, as did statements from Kuwait and Qatar. Not one of the three nations have official diplomatic ties with Israel.

Turkey, which solely not too long ago re-established full diplomatic ties with Israel, condemned what it mentioned was “the provocative motion” by Ben-Gvir. It urged Israel “to behave responsibly,” saying such visits may “trigger an escalation within the area.”

Israel’s neighbour Jordan, which acts as custodian of the contested shrine, condemned Ben-Gvir’s go to “within the strongest phrases” and summoned Israel’s ambassador to lodge a protest.

Egypt, one other key Arab ally of Israel’s, warned in opposition to “adverse repercussions of such measures on safety and stability within the occupied territories and the area, and on the way forward for the peace course of.”

Tensions on the disputed compound have fuelled previous rounds of violence. A go to by then-opposition chief Ariel Sharon in September 2000 helped spark clashes that turned the second Palestinian rebellion. Clashes between Israeli safety forces and Palestinian demonstrators in and across the web site fuelled an 11-day struggle with Hamas in 2021.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem mentioned Ben-Gvir’s go to was “a continuation of the Zionist’s occupation aggression on our sacred locations and struggle on our Arab id.”

“Our Palestinian individuals will proceed defending their holy locations and Al Aqsa Mosque,” he mentioned.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah group, which fought Israel in a month-long struggle in 2006, mentioned the go to threatened to “blow up the area.”

Responding to the outcry, Netanyahu late Tuesday mentioned Israel stays dedicated to “strictly sustaining the established order” on the web site. “The declare {that a} change has been made in the established order is with out basis.”

Netanyahu returned to workplace final week for his sixth time period as prime minister, main probably the most spiritual, right-wing authorities within the nation’s historical past. Its objectives embody increasing West Financial institution settlements and annexing the occupied territory.

Israel captured the Outdated Metropolis of Jerusalem, with its holy websites to 3 monotheistic faiths, together with the remainder of east Jerusalem, the West Financial institution and the Gaza Strip within the 1967 Mideast struggle. The Palestinians search these territories for a future impartial state, with east Jerusalem as capital. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in a transfer unrecognized by many of the worldwide group and considers town its undivided, everlasting capital.

The competing claims to the location lie on the coronary heart of the Israeli-Palestinian battle.

Ben-Gvir is head of the ultranationalist spiritual Jewish Energy faction and has a historical past of inflammatory remarks and actions in opposition to Palestinians. He was as soon as convicted of incitement and supporting a Jewish terrorist group, however in his new job now instructions Israel’s police power.

A day earlier, opposition chief Yair Lapid, who till final week was Israel’s prime minister, warned that Ben-Gvir’s supposed go to would “result in violence that may endanger human lives and value human lives.”

His go to got here following months of mounting tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.

Early on Tuesday, Palestinian officers mentioned a 15-year-old boy was killed by Israeli military fireplace close to the occupied West Financial institution metropolis of Bethlehem. The Israeli navy mentioned its forces had shot at individuals throwing firebombs towards troops.

On Monday, the Israeli rights group B’Tselem mentioned 2022 was the deadliest 12 months for Palestinians since 2004, a interval of intense violence that got here throughout a Palestinian rebellion. It mentioned practically 150 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli fireplace within the West Financial institution and east Jerusalem.

The Israeli navy has been conducting near-daily raids into Palestinian cities and cities since a spate of Palestinian assaults in opposition to Israelis killed 19 final spring. A contemporary wave of assaults killed not less than one other 9 Israelis within the fall.

The Israeli military says many of the Palestinians killed have been militants. However stone-throwing youths protesting the incursions and others not concerned in confrontations have additionally been killed.