Kochi: Violating the long term arrangement, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir prayed at al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, BBC reported.
Ben-Gvir led 1,250 Jewish prayers at the compound, which is known by Jews as the Temple Mount, in occupied East Jerusalem.
Jews are allowed to visit the site but not pray. A statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s office said there had been no change to Israel’s policy of maintaining the status quo agreement that allows only Muslim worship at the site whose custodian is Jordan which has described the visit as “an unacceptable provocation”.
Hamas and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have condemned it.
The site is the holiest place for Jews while it is the third holiest place for Muslims, who believe it was where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven.
It was captured by Israel from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East war. Under the status quo, Jordan was allowed to continue its historical role as custodian of the site, while Israel assumed control of security and access, BBC said.
The minister also repeated his call for Israel to occupy the whole of the Gaza Strip and to encourage what he described as “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians from the territory.
