Tensions flared anew at Jerusalem’s contested holy site when hardline Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex on Sunday. His remarks claiming ownership and calls for overhaul sent shockwaves through the Arab world, prompting an immediate backlash from Jordan.
Eyewitness videos showed Ben-Gvir navigating the vast plateau, pausing in areas restricted for non-Muslim prayer. ‘This feels like my home,’ he stated boldly, adding that he was pressing Netanyahu to revisit longstanding restrictions. The visit, captured in real-time, quickly went viral, amplifying the controversy.
Amman reacted with outrage, with its foreign affairs office decrying the act as a dangerous breach of international norms. They warned that such provocations undermine the spiritual integrity of Al-Aqsa, Islam’s pivotal shrine built over what Jews believe was the site of their biblical temples.
For years, a delicate balance has prevailed: Jewish visitors allowed during set hours, but no worship to prevent clashes with Palestinian worshippers. Jordan’s Islamic Waqf manages the affairs, a role cemented by peace treaties and UN resolutions. Ben-Gvir’s defiance challenges this directly.
Netanyahu’s government has faced this script before. Following prior Ben-Gvir escapades, officials scrambled to assure the world that Israel’s policy remains unchanged. Silence from the PM’s bureau today leaves room for speculation on internal rifts within the coalition.
The episode arrives amid heightened alert in the region, with holidays converging that often spark confrontations. Observers fear Ben-Gvir’s rhetoric could mobilize extremists on all sides, threatening the uneasy peace that has held the site together for decades.
