Mumtaz Moosa | mumtazs@icloud.com
15 August 2024 | 12:15 CAT
2-minute read

Photo Credit: WAFA Agency

Yesterday, there was widespread international condemnation of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s provocative statements regarding Masjid Al-Aqsa. Ben Gvir declared that Jewish prayers are now permitted at the Temple Mount, a move that contravenes the established status quo governing this sensitive holy site and directly contradicts the directives of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

This declaration has drawn sharp criticism from various global actors, including the United States, France, the European Union, the United Nations, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. A spokesperson for the U.S. asserted that the United States firmly supports the preservation of the historical status quo concerning the holy sites of Jerusalem, declaring any unilateral actions that jeopardise this status quo to be unacceptable.

EXPLAINER:

For decades, a delicate status quo has governed worship and visitation rights at the Temple Mount, allowing only Muslims to pray within its courtyards and prayer hall. Non-Muslims have been permitted to visit the site under the supervision of the AWQAF, a joint Jordanian-Palestinian Islamic trust responsible for managing the mosque’s affairs.

According to the Palestine Information Network, Ben Gvir’s comments are expected to provoke further condemnation from Palestinians, who have long accused Israel of attempting to undermine the mosque’s Islamic identity.

The AWQAF reported that more than 2,250 people participated in the events on Tuesday, which coincided with Tisha B’Av, an annual fast day commemorating the destruction of the Temple.