The United Nations and the United States led a refrain of worldwide condemnation on Tuesday of Israel’s extreme-right new nationwide safety minister’s go to to Jerusalem’s extremely delicate Al-Aqsa mosque compound.

The transfer by firebrand Itamar Ben-Gvir enraged Palestinians and US allies within the Arab world, whereas Western governments warned that such strikes may jeopardise the delicate established order at Jerusalem’s holy websites.

Information18 explains the controversy:

About the Al Aqsa Mosque

During the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel seized the 14-hectare (35-acre) rectangular esplanade on the southeast nook of the Old City, together with the remainder of east Jerusalem, which was later annexed in a transfer by no means recognised internationally.

The Palestinians need the japanese sector of Jerusalem, which incorporates the Old City and its sacred websites, to be the capital of their future state. Israel considers all of Jerusalem to be its indivisible capital.

The compound, identified to Muslims as Al-Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary), homes the Al-Aqsa mosque in addition to the Dome of the Rock, a well-known golden shrine.

It is the third-holiest website in Islam after Mecca’s Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, each in Saudi Arabia, and is believed to be the place the Prophet Mohammed ascended to heaven on a winged horse.

Omar, Islam’s second caliph, constructed the compound in its present type within the seventh century on the location of the Second Jewish Temple, which was destroyed by the Romans round 70 AD.

Jews from everywhere in the world go to the realm to hope on the Western Wall, a relic of the Second Temple’s retaining wall positioned beneath the esplanade.

In Hebrew, the complete space is called Har HaBayit, or the Temple Mount.

Select entry

Under a status-quo settlement, Jordan administers Al-Aqsa mosque in collaboration with Palestinians, however entry to the location is managed by Israeli safety forces.

The decades-old guidelines enable Muslims to enter the esplanade at any time of day or night time, however non-Muslims are solely permitted to take action at particular instances and with out praying.

However, in recent times, Israeli police have repeatedly restricted entry to the compound throughout instances of pressure, whereas the variety of Jews visiting the compound has elevated.

Some ultra-nationalist Jews have been caught praying on the esplanade, inflicting friction with Muslim worshippers.

Decades of battle

The website has served as a lightning rod within the battle between Israel and the Palestinians.

In 1996, an Israeli choice to open a brand new entrance to the west of the esplanade sparked clashes that resulted within the deaths of greater than 80 folks over the course of three days.

A controversial go to to the esplanade by then-right-wing opposition chief Ariel Sharon in September 2000 was one of many essential catalysts for the second Palestinian intifada, which lasted from 2000 to 2005.

In clashes the day after Sharon’s go to, Israeli police killed seven Palestinian protesters.

The compound was quickly closed in 2017 after three Arab Israelis opened hearth on Israeli police close to the location, killing two of them earlier than fleeing into the compound and being shot lifeless by safety forces.

During essential Jewish and Muslim commemorations two years later, clashes between police and worshippers on the compound injured dozens of Palestinians.

During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in 2021, the esplanade was as soon as once more the location of clashes between Israeli police and Muslim worshippers, occasions that led to an 11-day warfare between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The website noticed renewed clashes within the spring of 2022, injuring a whole lot of Palestinians.

What About Ben-Gvir’s Actions?

On December 29, Ben-Gvir started his ministerial profession as a part of Israel’s most right-wing authorities in historical past, led by Benjamin Netanyahu.

While Ben-Gvir has been to the compound a number of instances since becoming a member of parliament in April 2021, his presence as a high minister is critical – and will result in violence, a report by Firstpost explains.

The Gaza Strip is dominated by Hamas, and an 11-day warfare broke out between Palestinian militants and Israel in May 2021, following violence at Al-Aqsa mosque.

Hundreds of Palestinians and dozens of Israeli cops have been injured within the previous clashes in east Jerusalem, which have been sparked by restrictions on Palestinian gatherings and doable evictions.

During this time, Ben-Gvir held rallies at Israeli settler houses in east Jerusalem, which Israel has occupied because the 1967 Six-Day War.

A controversial go to by then-opposition chief Ariel Sharon in 2000 was one of many essential catalysts for the second Palestinian intifada, which lasted till 2005.

Some have been involved about Ben-Gvir due to his historical past of advocating violence in opposition to Palestinians.

Ben-Gvir has advocated for the expulsion of Arab-Israelis deemed disloyal to the state, in addition to the annexation of the occupied West Bank.

Until just lately, he had a portrait of Baruch Goldstein in his front room, who massacred 29 Palestinian worshippers at a Hebron mosque in 1994.

Ben-Gvir says he desires to finish Palestinian autonomy in elements of the occupied West Bank and hold Israel’s occupation of Palestinians indefinitely.

In addition, whereas visiting a tense Palestinian neighbourhood in east Jerusalem, the far-right minister brandished a pistol.

Netanyahu defended Ben-Gvir in an interview with NPR, saying he has “modified lots of his views since then” and that “with power comes responsibility.”

Regardless, Ben-Gvir has lobbied to vary the location’s administration to permit Jewish prayer, a transfer opposed by mainstream rabbinical authorities.

According to Waqf guards, Ben-Gvir was accompanied by Israeli safety forces, and a drone hovered above the holy website.

Visitors arrived on the plaza after he left on Tuesday morning, and the scenario remained quiet.

After visiting the location, Ben-Gvir tweeted that it “is open to everybody, and if Hamas thinks that threatening me will deter me, it ought to perceive that instances have modified.”

With inputs from AFP

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