RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned the “provocative act” of Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem along with a group of settlers. The visit comes amid escalating tensions between the Israeli army and Palestinians in the West Bank.
In an official statement, the Saudi foreign ministry denounced the visit as a “flagrant violation” of international law and an act of “provocation” against Muslims worldwide. The Kingdom holds the Israeli army responsible for the repercussions of such repeated violations and urges the international community to take action to end the Israeli army’s escalation and ensure the safety of Palestinian civilians.
#بيان | تعرب وزارة الخارجية عن إدانة واستنكار المملكة العربية السعودية اقتحام وزير الأمن القومي الإسرائيلي ومجموعةٍ من المستوطنين لباحة المسجد الأقصى pic.twitter.com/4rd80ih1QH
— وزارة الخارجية 🇸🇦 (@KSAMOFA) July 27, 2023
Significance of Al-Aqsa Mosque
Jordan, too, expressed its condemnation of the minister’s visit, issuing a warning about the potential consequences of allowing extremists to breach the holy shrine under the protection of the Israeli occupation police. The Al-Aqsa Mosque holds significant religious and cultural importance to both Muslims and Jews, making such visits a sensitive and contentious issue.
Thursday marked Ben-Gvir’s third known visit to the contested site since his appointment as a minister in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government. The visit coincided with the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’Av, a day of mourning and repentance for Jews commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples, pivotal events in Jewish history.
