Israeli Far-Right Minister Announces Plan to Build Synagogue at al-Aqsa Mosque
In an interview with Israeli radio on Monday, Ben Gvir announced plans to construct a synagogue within the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, claiming that existing policies allow for Jewish prayer at the site and maintaining that there is "equal law between Jews and Muslims."
The comments come amid the almost daily storming of the compound by illegal Israeli settlers who perform provocative Jewish rituals at the Muslim site.
Under an agreement signed between the Israeli regime and the Jordanian government in the wake of the regime’s occupation of al-Quds in 1967, non-Muslim worship at the holy compound is prohibited. But the ban is a mere phrase, and, in action, circumstances have been against Muslims.
Meanwhile, extremist Jewish groups have openly announced their intention to destroy the mosque and build a temple there.
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Ben Gvir’s recent statement, however, sparked immediate backlash even within the regime. The Israeli prime minister’s office, understanding the anger that the regime could face, was quick to issue a clarification, asserting that there would be no change to the existing status quo at al-Aqsa.
Interior minister Moshe Arbel was among the first to condemn the proposal, calling for Netanyahu to remove Ben Gvir from his position. Arbel warned that Ben Gvir's comments jeopardize the regime’s diplomatic relationships with Muslim-majority countries and could lead to severe repercussions.
Opposition leader Benny Gantz claimed the regime was committed to the status quo at al-Aqsa Mosque. He criticized Benjamin Netanyahu for allowing "an irresponsible arsonist to bring us down into an abyss in exchange for political peace," referring to Ben Gvir.
Yair Lapid, another opposition leader, also condemned Netanyahu for keeping the far-right politician in the cabinet. "The whole region sees Netanyahu’s weakness against Ben-Gvir," Lapid said on X.
Source: Agencies
