Call To Build Synagogue at Mosque Site Stirs Fury

Jerusalem: A far-right Israeli minister sparked fresh outrage on Monday by saying he would build a synagogue at Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound if he could, once again challenging government policy.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has repeatedly ignored the government’s longstanding ban on Jews praying at the site, told Army Radio that if it were possible he would build a synagogue at the Al-Aqsa compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount.

The Al-Aqsa compound is Islam’s third-holiest site and a symbol of Palestinian national identity, but it is also Judaism’s holiest place, revered as the site of the second temple destroyed by the Romans in 70AD.

“If I could do anything I wanted, I would put an Israeli flag on the site,” Mr Ben Gvir said.

Asked several times if he would build a synagogue at the site, he finally replied: “Yes.”

Under the status quo maintained by Israeli authorities, Jews and other non-Muslims are allowed to visit the compound in east Jerusalem during specified hours, but are not permitted to pray there or display religious symbols. In recent years, the restrictions have been increasingly flouted by hardline religious nationalists such as Mr Ben Gvir, prompting violent reactions from Palestinians. Since taking office in December 2022, he has visited the site at least six times.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is administered by Jordan, but access to the site itself is controlled by Israeli security forces.

Mr Ben Gvir told Army Radio Jews should be allowed to pray in the compound. “Arabs can pray wherever they want, so Jews should be able to pray wherever they want,” he said, claiming the “current policy allows Jews to pray at this site”.

Jordan hit back. “Al-Aqsa and the holy sites are a pure place of worship for Muslims,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Sufian Qudah said. “Jordan will take all necessary measures to stop the attacks on the holy sites” and “is preparing the necessary legal files to take action in international courts against the attacks on the holy sites”.

Several Israeli officials also condemned Mr Ben Gvir, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said “there is no change” to the current policy. “Challenging the status quo on the Temple Mount is a dangerous, unnecessary and irresponsible act,” Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on X. “Ben Gvir’s actions endanger the national security of the state of Israel.”

Palestinian presidency spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh warned that “Al-Aqsa and the holy sites are a red line that we will not allow to be touched at all”.

Hamas, with whom Israel is locked in a bitter war in the Gaza Strip, said the minister’s comments were “dangerous”, and called on Arab and Islamic countries “to take responsibility for protecting the holy sites”.