Israeli Minister Leads Incursion of Al-Aqsa Compound

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Facts

  • Israel's right-wing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound — a sensitive holy site in Jerusalem — on Thursday during the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’Av, prompting harsh rebukes from both Palestinian and regional leaders.1
  • Jordan, the UAE, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia all condemned Ben-Gvir's visit, with Saudi Arabia calling the move “a provocation of the feelings of Muslims around the world."2
  • The US Embassy in Israel also criticized Ben-Gvir's visit, saying it “stands firmly” for preserving the site's status quo, and that “any unilateral action or rhetoric that jeopardizes the status quo is unacceptable.” This was Ben-Gvir's third time at the site as a cabinet minister.3
  • Tisha B’Av commemorates the historic calamities that have befallen the Jewish people – primarily the destruction of two ancient temples that stood on the Temple Mount. Ben-Gvir said regarding the site, “this place, this is the most important place for the people of Israel where we have to go back and show our governability.”4
  • Al-Aqsa is considered one of the holiest sites in Islam, and is also considered a major holy site in Judaism — it's also often referred to as the Temple Mount. Under the status quo agreement with Jordan, only Muslims can pray at the site, while Jews are allowed to visit but not pray.5
  • The situation in the West Bank, Gaza, and Israel continues to deteriorate as violence has worsened in the last year due to an increase in Israeli raids in the West Bank following a spree of Palestinian attacks in Israel. More than 160 Palestinians have reportedly been killed by Israeli forces this year, and at least 26 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks against Israelis.6

Sources: 1AL, 2The National, 3The Times of Israel, 4CNN, 5Al Jazeera, and 6Associated Press.

Narratives

  • Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Eye. Israel continues to escalate the situation in the Holy Land as its most radical ministers stage provocative gestures at Al-Aqsa. With extremists like Ben-Gvir holding key positions of power, Palestinians face unprecedented violence. Emboldened by international silence after killing more Palestinians last year than in any other calendar year since the Second Intifada, the occupation is becoming ever more violent.
  • Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Jerusalem Post. Even though the Temple Mount is the holiest place in Judaism, Israel maintains the status quo, as it has no interest in provoking the situation in the West Bank or Gaza. While the media focuses on Ben-Gvir's Temple Mount visits, Palestinian terrorists continue to plan attacks against Israeli civilians.