The Spanish government condemned the visit of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the Temple Mount at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, the kingdom’s Foreign Ministry said in a communiqué.
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On Tuesday, Ben-Gvir, known for his right-wing views, spoke against the backdrop of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, calling not to go to negotiations on the Gaza Strip in Dohuili Cairo, but to fight the war with the Palestinian Hamas movement to the end. He also said that Israel is moving toward allowing Jews to pray on the Temple Mount. At the same time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Ben-Gvir’s words about Israel’s policy on the Temple Mount and said that it has not changed.
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“The (Spanish) government condemns the visit of Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir to the Esplanade of Mosques and his statements, they (Ben-Gvir’s words) constitute an unacceptable violation of the historical status quo of the Holy Places in Jerusalem, which Israel must preserve by taking all necessary measures,” – the message says.
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Ben-Gvir’s actions have also already been condemned by the French Foreign Ministry and considered them unacceptable. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry called the visit of the Israeli minister to the Temple Mount a violation of international law, as well as the historical and legal status of Jerusalem. According to the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, Ben-Gvir’s speech at the Al-Aqsa Mosque was a provocation.
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The status quo sees Israel providing overall security control of the Temple Mount, while the Islamic Waqf, a Muslim religious trust, is responsible for the day-to-day management and maintenance of the site. Legally, Jews and Christians can climb the Temple Mount at certain times on certain days of the week. However, visits by politicians, especially Minister Ben-Gvir, often cause serious tensions between Israel and the Palestinians.
