Palestinians slam Israeli minister visiting Jerusalem religious site

A renewed visit by Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to a contested religious site in Jerusalem on Sunday sparked fierce criticism from Palestinians and their Arab allies. While visiting the Noble Sanctuary site, which to Jews is known as Temple Mount, Ben-Givr said: "I'm excited to be visiting Jerusalem's Temple Mount, the most important site for the Jewish people."

The minister also praised the Israeli police, who are responsible for security at the sensitive hilltop holy site under Muslim administration. Their work showed "who the master of the house is in Jerusalem," Ben-Gvir said.

The Noble Sanctuary, or al-Haram al-Sharif in Arabic, is the third holiest site in Islam after Mecca and Medina. To Jews it is known as the Temple Mount, where both of Judaism's ancient temples once stood. Jews are allowed to visit the site, but not to pray there. Al-Haram al-Sharif contains the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Ben-Gvir has been advocating for Jews to get more access to the site, but Palestinians fear that this would allow Israel to extend its control over it.

Jordan's Foreign Ministry and a Palestinian presidential spokesman condemned the far-right politician's visit as dangerous provocation. Jordan is the official custodian of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

"All the threats of Gaza's ruling Islamist Hamas will not help anything, we are the landlord in Jerusalem and in the whole land of Israel," Ben-Gvir said during the visit, also referring to the occupied West Bank and the Arab-held eastern part of Jerusalem. The national security minister last visited the site in January, shortly after taking office.

A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called Ben-Gvir's visit "a blatant attack on the holy site that will have serious consequences", according to the Wafa news agency. "Attempts by Itamar Ben Gvir and his likes of extremists to change the status quo in Al-Aqsa Mosque are condemned and rejected and will fail", he was quoted as saying.

The U.S. Department of State called the visit "provocative" and the accompanying rhetoric "inflammatory," expressing concern. "This holy space should not be used for political purposes, and we call on all parties to respect its sanctity," Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

"More broadly, we reaffirm the longstanding U.S. position in support of the historic status quo at Jerusalem's holy sites and underline Jordan's special role as custodian of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem."    (dpa)