Israeli Minister Visits Al-Aqsa Amid Regional Condemnation, Jerusalem Tensions

Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, also known as the Temple Mount, has sparked strong condemnation from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Palestinian officials, who view the visit as a provocative violation of the site's status and international law. Ben-Gvir, who advocates for Jewish prayer rights at the compound, visited the site ahead of the annual Flag March celebrating Israel's capture of East Jerusalem in 1967, a rally known to increase tensions and trigger confrontations between Israeli ultranationalists and Palestinians. The compound is administered by a Jordanian Islamic trust, which allows Jewish visitors but prohibits prayers, a status quo challenged by Ben-Gvir's actions. The Flag March saw thousands of Israeli marchers chanting and waving flags while harassing Palestinian shopkeepers, journalists, and left-wing Israelis, leading to violence and unrest in East Jerusalem's Old City. Palestinians regard East Jerusalem as occupied territory and seek it as the capital of a future state, while Israel considers all of Jerusalem its indivisible capital, a position recognized by the U.S. but not by most other countries. The situation underscores ongoing regional tensions over Jerusalem's status and the sensitivities around religious sites sacred to both Muslims and Jews.