Since the end of 2022, barely a week has gone by without a scandal for Itamar Ben Gvir, who became minister of national security in the most right-wing coalition government in Israel’s history.
Ben Gvir, who joined police in an attack on the Muslim holy site of Al-Aqsa Mosque shortly after taking office, has fully unleashed his inner fascist in the war in Gaza.
Itamar Ben Gvir, who wants Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians expelled to the Sinai desert or other countries, said Jewish extremists should be relocated to the territory instead.
The leader of the Jewish Power party, a fascist minister, recently announced that he would break rules that have existed for decades and allow Jews to pray at Masjid Al-Aqsa.
Al-Aqsa Mosque, located in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem, is one of Islam’s three holiest sites.
Jordan is considered the country in charge of Jerusalem’s religious affairs due to an agreement it signed with Israel in 1994. The agreement the Amman administration reached with the Palestinians gives Jordan the right to defend and protect Jerusalem and its holy sites.
Itamar Ben Gvir, who has long advocated for changing the status quo in the Haram al-Sharif, which includes Masjid al-Aqsa, made statements during Israeli parliament meetings encouraging the attack that would allow worship at the holy shrine at Masjid al-Aqsa.
The fascist minister’s new announcement is expected to provoke a strong reaction in the Islamic world.
Orthodox Jews Rise Up
The scandalous statement immediately reverberated across Israel, with Orthodox Jewish members of parliament condemning Ben Gvir, saying the practice violated Jewish rules.
Interior Minister Moshe Arbel described the decision as a great sacrilege and protested to Ben Gvir, saying “we cannot allow the great sacrilege that has been committed to pass in silence.”
In a message shared on his social media accounts, Deger HaTorah party leader Moshe Gafni called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent any changes to the status quo in Haram al-Sharif.
According to Israeli Orthodox Jews (Haredim), Jews should never enter Al-Aqsa Mosque.
