For the first time in history, Israel has agreed to fund ‘guided tours’ of Jews in the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This is an extraordinary development.
The Israeli Ministry of Heritage, led by Minister Amichai Eliyahu, a member of the Jewish Power Party, has allocated money for this new project in the Old City of East Jerusalem.
According to the Israel Broadcasting Corporation, the amount allocated by the ministry is two million shekels (Israeli currency), which is equivalent to about 550 thousand US dollars.
Minister Eliyahu, under the leadership of Minister of National Security Atmar Bin Guer, has been trying to get the necessary approvals for these visits for a long time.
‘Religious war may erupt’
The announcement to fund these ‘guided tours’ came a day after Ben Guerre’s controversial comments in which he questioned the ‘legal and historical status’ of Jerusalem, the Jewish synagogue on the Temple Mount, the Temple Mount. expressed his support for the construction of
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office was immediately forced to clarify that the ‘status quo’ of the Temple Mount had not changed following Ben Guerre’s statements.
The ‘status quo’ refers to the agreement whereby Jews can go to the Western Wall under certain circumstances but cannot worship there.
An official at the Islamic endowments department in Jerusalem told the BBC on condition of anonymity that Israel wants to inflame tensions in the region through its extremist ministers such as Ben Gwere and Eliyahu.
He further said that the Israeli government is imposing its control by force of arms by taking advantage of war situations and emergency laws.
He said that ‘violations in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque may inflame the sentiments of Muslims which may lead to a religious war and the outcome of such a war will be difficult to predict.
He also complained that the Islamic world and the Arab nation were “neglectful” of their duties regarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque and were doing nothing politically to stop Israel’s monopoly.
He added that this is the ‘pure right of Muslims’.
The Islamic Awqaf Department official added that his department is firm on its position to maintain its role in Al-Aqsa Mosque and holds the Israeli government fully responsible for recent irresponsible statements by Israeli ministers. Keeps
This was not the first time that Ben-Goverr has called for Jews to be allowed to worship at the Temple Mount. Earlier this month, more than 2,000 Jews, waving Israeli flags, entered the Temple Mount’s courtyard, sparking a backlash.
He then announced that Jews would be allowed to worship inside the synagogue’s courtyards, a clear reversal of historical agreements that barred non-Muslims from worshiping in the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the agreements. Jews are allowed to enter only at certain times.
In recent months and years, a number of videos have gone viral showing Jews worshiping in the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in violation of signed agreements.
But Israeli police say they are maintaining the ‘status quo’ and preventing any ‘illegal’ actions from taking place.
It should be remembered that Jerusalem is a holy place for the followers of the three religions of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Al-Aqsa Mosque is located in the center of the old city of Bait-ul-Maqdis on a hill known to Muslims as ‘Al-Haram al-Sharif’.
The Haram al-Sharif compound contains two sacred Muslim sites, including the ‘Dome of the Rock’ and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which was built in the 8th century.
This entire compound is called ‘Al-Aqsa Mosque’. Covering an area of about 35 acres, this place is called the ‘Temple Mount’ by the Jews, while the ‘Dome of the Rock’ has also been given the status of the holiest place in the Jewish religion.
Muslims believe that many prophets worshiped here, including Hazrat Ibrahim, Hazrat Dawood, Hazrat Solomon, Hazrat Elijah and Hazrat Jesus.
Muslims believe that the Prophet of Islam was brought from Mecca to Al-Aqsa Mosque during a single night in the year 620, from where he made his ascension journey. That is why it is considered very sacred for Muslims.
On the other hand, Jews believe that King Solomon built the first Jewish synagogue at this place three thousand years ago.
According to him, the second Jewish synagogue built at this location was destroyed by the Romans in 70 BC.
Oil works on fire
Israeli political analyst Yves Stern told the BBC that Ben Guerre is interested in completely changing the ‘status quo’ of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, or Temple Mount, and in doing so is adding ‘fuel to the fire’.
Stern believes that Ben Guerre’s statements are causing tension and will have an impact on the region.
They believe that Ben Guerre’s actions are likely to have an immediate and very dangerous reaction and will also be strongly reacted to by the Palestinians and the international community.
The Israeli analyst believes that in the context of increased security and tension, Ben Guerr can achieve success and change the situation on the Temple Mount by changing the ‘status quo’.
There is a consensus in the local and international community that the status quo of Al-Haram al-Sharif or Masjid-e-Aqsa should remain intact and that any change to it could cause major tensions.
Stern confirmed to the BBC that Ben Gower has the ability to change police policy.
He added that the police in Israel is no longer an independent institution and that Ben-Goverr personally wants to control police policy.
It should be remembered that Jerusalem is a holy place for the followers of the three religions of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Al-Aqsa Mosque is located in the center of the old city of Bait-ul-Maqdis on a hill known to Muslims as ‘Al-Haram al-Sharif’.
The Haram al-Sharif compound contains two sacred Muslim sites, including the ‘Dome of the Rock’ and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which was built in the 8th century.
This entire compound is called ‘Al-Aqsa Mosque’. Covering an area of about 35 acres, this place is called the ‘Temple Mount’ by the Jews, while the ‘Dome of the Rock’ has also been given the status of the holiest place in the Jewish religion.
Muslims believe that many prophets worshiped here, including Hazrat Ibrahim, Hazrat Dawood, Hazrat Solomon, Hazrat Elijah and Hazrat Jesus.
Muslims believe that the Prophet of Islam was brought from Mecca to Al-Aqsa Mosque during a single night in the year 620, from where he made his ascension journey. That is why it is considered very sacred for Muslims.
On the other hand, Jews believe that King Solomon built the first Jewish synagogue at this place three thousand years ago.
According to him, the second Jewish synagogue built at this location was destroyed by the Romans in 70 BC.
Oil works on fire
Israeli political analyst Yves Stern told the BBC that Ben Guerre is interested in completely changing the ‘status quo’ of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, or Temple Mount, and in doing so is adding ‘fuel to the fire’.
Stern believes that Ben Guerre’s statements are causing tension and will have an impact on the region.
They believe that Ben Guerre’s actions are likely to have an immediate and very dangerous reaction and will also be strongly reacted to by the Palestinians and the international community.
The Israeli analyst believes that in the context of increased security and tension, Ben Guerr can achieve success and change the situation on the Temple Mount by changing the ‘status quo’.
There is a consensus in the local and international community that the status quo of Al-Haram al-Sharif or Masjid-e-Aqsa should remain intact and that any change to it could cause major tensions.
Stern confirmed to the BBC that Ben Gower has the ability to change police policy.
He added that the police in Israel is no longer an independent institution and that Ben-Goverr personally wants to control police policy.
Does Judaism allow Jews to enter Haram al-Sharif?
Yetid Niman, a newspaper affiliated with the ultra-Orthodox political party Digal Torah, published a headline in Arabic condemning National Security Minister Ben Gower’s activities on the Temple Mount and his comments about the site.
The Arabic headline read ‘Minister Ben Guerre repeatedly makes nasty statements and endangers the residents of the Holy City.’
All arbiters of Jewish law handed down from generation to generation (i.e. Jewish monks) are of the opinion that Jews are religiously forbidden to worship on the Temple Mount.
In reference to the minister’s statement in an Army Radio interview that he would build a synagogue in the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Haredi newspaper described Bengweir as an “incendiary political activist” who would “re-ignite the region.” is fanning the flames.’
Israeli Rabbi Elhanan Miller says that from a legal point of view, there is a dispute regarding the entry of Jews into the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Jews know it as the Temple Mount.
Orthodox Jews worship at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The Supreme Rabbinate in Israel, the official religious body, has banned Jews from visiting the site because they believe their entry to the site preceded the appearance of Jesus and the ‘slaughter of the cow’. It is desecrated.
According to Rabbi Miller, this does not mean that the fatwa was given because of the importance of the place to Muslims or Palestinians, but rather a religious reason that allowed the Jews to enter the place at a certain time, gain control over it, and It is allowed to worship here.
However, Miller says the conflict between hard-line Jews and religious extremists over the issue of Jewish worship on the Temple Mount is political because they fear the presence of Jews in the area and the destruction of Muslim holy sites. It could lead to massive bloodshed that could enrage Arab and Islamic countries.
“The Israeli Defense Minister wrote on X that changing the ‘status quo’ of the ‘Temple Mount’ is a dangerous, unnecessary and irresponsible act and that Ben Gower’s statements are putting ‘the security of the State of Israel at risk.’
Opposition leader Yair Lapid said Ben Guerre’s repeated contradictory statements showed Netanyahu had lost control of his government.
Israel’s Minister of National Security Atmar Ben Gewer visits the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jewishly known as the Temple Mount, in the Old City of Jerusalem on August 13, 2024.
Arab and international reactions
Palestinian presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudina described Ben Guerr’s statements as “extremely dangerous” and said, “Al-Aqsa and the holy sites are a red line, we will never allow them to be harmed.”
While the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has condemned any change in the ‘Status Co’ of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and has demanded a clear international position in this regard.
According to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Egypt condemned these statements and called them irresponsible and called such ongoing “Israeli violations” dangerous.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry condemned Bin Ghafir’s statements, rejecting the kingdom’s “extremist and provocative” statements and stressed the need to respect the “legal and historical status” of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
While the United Nations, while commenting on Ben Guerre’s statements, said that he risked further worsening the already tense situation.
Despite the condemnation of a few people, there is almost a consensus in Israel.
Even opposition leader Yair Lapid, who has criticized Ben Guerr’s recent actions, like others at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, also known as the Temple Mount, speaks of ‘Israel’s right’ in its courtyards. do
But the Israelis’ disagreement on this issue is related to the actions of some extremist ministers of Netanyahu’s government.
However, the basis of disagreement between Israelis in this matter is Netanyahu’s cabinet, which has a few extremist ministers.
