Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, known for his provocative statements and actions, visited the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem today and prayed there.
This unprecedented and provocative action tests the enforcement of rules governing one of the most sensitive religious worship sites in the Middle East.
תיעוד מהר הבית: בן גביר הוביל את התפילה, עשרות רקדו ושרו
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— ערוץ 7 (@arutz7heb) August 3, 2025
According to rules that have been in place for decades and agreed upon with Muslim authorities, the Al-Aqsa complex is administered by a Jordanian religious foundation, and while Jews can visit it, they are not permitted to pray there.
Ben-Gvir led a group of Jewish worshippers in prayer atop the Temple Mount on Sunday, as he observed the Tisha BeAv fast day.
Netanyahu: “Israel’s policy to maintain the status quo at Temple Mount has not changed and will not change”
Ben-Gvir’s actions were immediately condemned by the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement regarding Ben-Gvir’s visit, insisting that “Israel’s policy to maintain the status quo at Temple Mount has not changed and will not change.”
Since first taking the national security portfolio in 2022, as noted by the Times of Israel, the ultra-nationalist Ben-Gvir has repeatedly advocated for a policy allowing Jewish prayer at the site, violating the long-standing status quo between Israel and Jordan, which manages the space.
