Far-right minister leads Israelis in prayer at flashpoint mosque compound

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (C) approaches the entrance to Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site in the Old City, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. (AP)

• While Jews are allowed to visit the mosque compound in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem during specified hours, they are not permitted to pray / display religious symbols

JERUSALEM: Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir led hundreds of Israelis into the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in annexed east Jerusalem Tuesday and performed prayers marking a Jewish holiday, sources said.
Ben Gvir, who has often defied the Israeli government’s longstanding ban on Jewish prayer at the mosque compound, vowed to “defeat Hamas” in Gaza in a video he filmed during his visit.
The compound is Islam’s third holiest site and a symbol of Palestinian national identity but it is also Judaism’s holiest place, revered as the site of the ancient temple destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.
While Jews and other non-Muslims are allowed to visit the mosque compound in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem during specified hours, they are not permitted to pray or display religious symbols.
In recent years, the restrictions have been increasingly flouted by hard-line religious nationalists like Ben Gvir, prompting sometimes violent reactions from Palestinians.
On Tuesday morning, Ben Gvir and some 2,250 other Israelis walked through the compound in groups, singing Jewish hymns under the protection of Israeli police, an official from the Waqf, the Jordanian body that is custodian of the site, told AFP.
“Minister Ben Gvir, instead of maintaining the status quo at the mosque is supervising the Judaization operation and trying to change the situation inside Al-Aqsa mosque,” the official said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak on the issue.
Israeli police also “imposed restrictions” on Muslim worshippers trying to enter the mosque, he said.
Images posted on social media networks showed Ben Gvir inside the compound while several Israelis lay on the ground performing Talmudic rituals.
Ben Gvir released a video statement on social media platform X, which he filmed inside the compound himself, vowing to win the war in Gaza.
“We must win this war. We must win and not go to the talks in Doha or Cairo,” he said, referring to the US-backed negotiations for a truce and hostage release deal for Gaza to resume on August 15.
“We can defeat Hamas.. we must bring them down to their knees,” Ben Gvir said.
Tuesday’s entry into the Al-Aqsa compound comes on the Jewish mourning day of Tisha Be’Av that commemorates the destruction of the ancient temple.
Last month too, Ben Gvir, who is known for provocative gestures, said he had prayed inside the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, defying the longstanding rules that permit Jewish visits but forbid prayer.