Israel’s National Security Ministry Itamar Ben Gvir and Prime Minister Netanyahu were in open conflict on Tuesday over the status quo regarding Jewish worship on the Temple Mount.
Ben Gvir declared that restrictions on Jewish prayer on the site of the destroyed Holy Temple in Jerusalem were lifted as he and 2,000 other Jews commemorated Tisha B’Av, a day of mourning for the Temple, on the Temple Mount on Tuesday.
The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement reaffirming the status quo.
“The incident this morning at the Temple Mount deviates from the status quo. Israel’s policy at the Temple Mount hasn’t changed,” the statement said.
Given the many clashes between Israelis and Palestinians that have occurred on the Temple Mount, Israel’s policy has been to limit Jewish prayer on the site and that Jews can visit the site only in limited numbers with a police escort.
Ben Gvir insists on a policy change and wrote on social media, “There is great progress here on [matters of Israeli] sovereignty and rule, images of Jews praying here as I’ve said. Our policy is to allow prayer.”
Ben Gvir has received criticism not only from Arab leaders, the Prime Minister and members of his coalition but also from ultra-orthodox politicians, who consider the Temple Mount to be off-limits given its sanctity.
