Ben Gvir's Temple Mount Visit Sparks Global Outcry

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's recent visit to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, also known as Temple Mount, has sparked significant international condemnation. Ben-Gvir led over 1,000 Jews in prayers at the site on Tisha B’Av, defying a longstanding ban on non-Muslim prayer at the location. The visit has been criticized by Germany, the United States, the European Union, and various Muslim nations for escalating tensions during a volatile period in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Critics, including Israeli newspaper Yated Ne'eman, argue that Ben-Gvir's actions jeopardize the historical status quo and endanger lives. Ben-Gvir has maintained that his objective is to permit Jewish prayer at the site, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated that the policy at Temple Mount remains unchanged. The event has underscored the divisive nature of religious and political dynamics surrounding Jerusalem's holy sites.