Minister of National Security Israel named Itamar Ben Gvir visit the complex Majid Al-Aqsa. Criticism has come to Israel from the United States (US) to Indonesia.
Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit to the Al-Aqsa mosque took place on Tuesday (3/1) local time, AFP reported. Ben-Gvir is an ultra-nationalist far-right politician. It was the first visit since Israel was led (back) by Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu.
Located in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem, the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex is administered by the Waqf’s Islamic Affairs Council, with Israeli forces operating there and controlling access.
Al-Aqsa Mosque and Temple Mount
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam which is also considered the holiest site by Jews who refer to the complex as the Temple Mount.
“The Temple Mount is the most important place for Israelis, and we protect freedom of movement for Muslims and Christians, but Jews will also climb the mountain, and those who make threats must be met — with an iron fist.” Ben-Gvir said in his statement.
Ben-Gvir is known to have lobbied to overhaul the management of the sacred complex in order to allow Jews to pray there. This move was opposed by leading rabbinic authorities in Israel. It is known that Jews are forbidden to pray on the Temple Mount.
Criticism comes from where, where. First, there is Hamas which views Ben-Gvir’s transfer to the Al-Aqsa mosque as an act of provocation by Israel.
Ben-Gvir was accompanied by several ISF units, with drones overhead, as he toured the Al-Aqsa mosque compound.
The Ben-Gvir figure himself has made several visits to the Al-Aqsa compound since he became a member of Israel’s parliament in April 2021. However, his most recent visit as an Israeli minister carries more weight.
A controversial visit in 2000 by then Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon was a major trigger for the second Palestinian intifada, which lasted until 2005.
Then the criticisms:
