Visit of Ben-Gvir : Provocation at the Temple Mount

Just a few days after taking office, Israel’s Police Minister Ben-Gvir caused tension: The right-wing politician visited the Temple Mount. The Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas had previously warned against such a visit.

Itamar Ben-Gvir didn’t hesitate. Just days after taking office, Israel’s Minister of National Security made good on his promise and visited the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The news website Ynet published photos showing the minister visiting the site under high security.

Ben-Gvir tweeted after the visit: “The Israeli government, of which I am a member, will not submit to an organization of nefarious murderers. The Temple Mount is open to all and if Hamas thinks their threats will deter me, then they must understand that times have changed.” The Palestinian Foreign Ministry spoke of “an unprecedented provocation and a dangerous escalation of the conflict”.

Jews are not allowed to pray there

The Temple Mount is the most sensitive place in the fragile coexistence of Israelis and Palestinians. It is a holy place for Jews, Muslims and Christians alike. A place that is overloaded with religious and political symbolism like no other in Jerusalem. The Temple Mount is under Muslim administration while Israel is responsible for security.

While the current status quo allows non-Muslims to visit, public prayer on the Temple Mount is reserved for Muslims only. However, there are always violations. Ben-Gvir had criticized this agreement as “racist” and discrimination against Jews. The Palestinians accuse Israel of wanting to expand its control of the holy site.

A reminder from Jordan

Israel’s opposition leader and ex-Prime Minister Jair Lapid had warned in advance that a visit to Ben-Gvir would trigger violence. “Itamar Ben-Gvir must not go to the Temple Mount. This is a provocation that will lead to violence and will cost lives. Even if Prime Minister Netanyahu is weak, this time he must say clearly that he is not allowed to enter the Temple Mount . Otherwise people will die.”

Jordan’s King Abdullah also sent a warning to the new Israeli government in a CNN interview: “We have red lines, and if someone thinks they have to cross these red lines, that naturally worries us. But I believe that in Israel too many are aware of this. It is time to build something together instead of destroying it.”

Support from the Likud

But Itamar Ben-Gvir cared little. The politician from the far-right Ozma Jehudit had previously been convicted of racist hate speech and supporting a Jewish terrorist organization. He is considered a political arsonist, especially with regard to the Palestinians. He is part of Benjamin Netanyahu’s new right-wing religious government, which was sworn in on Thursday in Israel.

He insists that in the future Jews will also receive prayer rights on the Temple Mount and he provokes. He also gets support from his coalition partner. Likud politician Avi Dichter, the former head of domestic intelligence and new agriculture minister, backed Ben-Gvir.

“If an Israeli, whether a minister or anyone else, were to be banned from entering the Temple Mount, it would be a huge mistake,” said Dichter. “Especially if this were done in response to a threat from Hamas or another terrorist group.”

Terrorist organizations threatened

Before the visit, a spokesman for the extremist Hamas in the Gaza Strip said violence could escalate if Ben-Gvir visited the Temple Mount. Daub Shihab, a leading member of the terrorist organization Islamic Jihad, made a similar statement.

“I will say very clearly: this problem will explode the situation. And it can open the door to a long intifada,” he said. “We have to be prepared and therefore call on everyone who can to oppose it.”

A look back at the year 2000 shows that the threat of an intifada, i.e. a popular uprising by the Palestinians against Israel, is quite realistic. At that time, the then opposition leader Ariel Sharon marched on the Temple Mount and triggered the second intifada. With thousands dead over five years.

With information from Julio Segador, ARD Studio Tel Aviv