Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir entered the courtyard of the Al‑Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Sunday, accompanied by Israeli security personnel, according to a report by Middle East Eye. The minister's presence was noted by the Palestinian news agency Wafa, which confirmed that the visit took place under the protection of Israeli forces.
The appearance marks the second time in recent weeks that Ben Gvir has set foot in the Al‑Aqsa courtyard. During this latest visit, the minister was observed conducting Talmudic prayers in the eastern sector of the compound, an area traditionally reserved for Muslim worshippers. The repeated incursions have drawn attention to the minister's overt religious activities within a site that is highly sensitive to both Muslim and Jewish communities.
The Al‑Aqsa compound operates under a long‑standing status‑quo arrangement that permits non‑Muslim visitors to access the outer courtyard but explicitly prohibits them from performing prayers on the premises. This arrangement, established after the 1967 war, is intended to maintain a delicate balance between the religious claims of Jews and Muslims over the site. Any deviation from the agreed practice is generally viewed as a breach of the status‑quo and can inflame communal tensions.
Ben Gvir's latest foray into the courtyard adds to a series of recent incidents that have heightened sensitivities around the holy site. While Israeli authorities maintain that the minister's visit was conducted within legal parameters, Palestinian officials and local worshippers have expressed alarm, warning that such actions could exacerbate already strained relations in the city. The episode underscores the fragile nature of religious coexistence in Jerusalem and the potential for political figures to influence the volatile dynamics surrounding the Al‑Aqsa Mosque.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Middle East Eye — original source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-minister-ben-gvir-enters-al-aqsa-courtyard-again-amid-tensions.