Israel minister says would build synagogue at flashpoint Jerusalem site

A far-right Israeli minister sparked fresh outrage on Monday by saying he would build a synagogue at Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound if he could, once again challenging government policy.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has repeatedly ignored the government's long-standing ban on Jews praying at the site, told Army Radio that if it were possible, he would build a synagogue at the Al-Aqsa compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount.

The Al-Aqsa compound is Islam's third holiest site and a symbol of Palestinian national identity, but it is also Judaism's holiest place, revered as the site of the second temple destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

"If I could do anything I wanted, I would put an Israeli flag on the site," Ben Gvir said in the interview.

Asked several times by the journalist if he would build a synagogue at the site if it were up to him, Ben Gvir finally replied: "Yes."

Under the status quo maintained by Israeli authorities, Jews and other non-Muslims are allowed to visit the compound in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem during specified hours, but they are not permitted to pray there or display religious symbols.

In recent years, the restrictions at the compound have been increasingly flouted by hardline religious nationalists like Ben Gvir, prompting sometimes violent reactions from Palestinians.

Since taking office as national security minister in December 2022, Ben Gvir has visited the disputed holy site at least six times, drawing severe condemnations.

The Al-Aqsa mosque compound is administered by Jordan, but access to the site itself is controlled by Israeli security forces.

Ben Gvir told Army Radio that Jews should be allowed to pray in the compound.

"Arabs can pray wherever they want, so Jews should be able to pray wherever they want," he said, claiming that the "current policy allows Jews to pray at this site".

- 'Dangerous' -

Jordan hit back at Ben Gvir's latest remarks.

"Al-Aqsa and the holy sites are a pure place of worship for Muslims," Jordanian foreign ministry spokesman Sufian Qudah said in a statement.

"Jordan will take all necessary measures to stop the attacks on the holy sites" and "is preparing the necessary legal files to take action in international courts against the attacks on the holy sites," Qudah said.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar also condemned the Israeli minister's comments.

"The Kingdom stresses the need to respect the historical and legal status of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque", Riyadh's foreign ministry said in a statement posted to social media, calling Ben Gvir's remarks "extremist and inflammatory".

Qatar's foreign ministry likewise denounced the call to build a synagogue at the Al-Aqsa compound as "a provocation to the feelings of Muslims around the world" and warned it could undermine efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.

Several Israeli officials also condemned Ben Gvir, while a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said "there is no change" to the current policy.

"Challenging the status quo on the Temple Mount is a dangerous, unnecessary, and irresponsible act," Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on social media platform X.

"Ben Gvir's actions endanger the national security of the State of Israel."

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said on X that Ben Gvir's repeated comments show that "Netanyahu lost control of his government".

Palestinian presidency spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh warned that "Al-Aqsa and the holy sites are a red line that we will not allow to be touched at all".

Hamas, with whom Israel is locked in a bitter war in the Gaza Strip, said the minister's comments were "dangerous" and called on Arab and Islamic countries "to take responsibility for protecting the holy sites".

Earlier this month, Ben Gvir announced he had prayed at the compound, drawing widespread condemnation, including from several influential Israeli rabbis.

During a recent visit to the site, Ben Gvir filmed a video statement in which he reiterated his opposition to any ceasefire in the Gaza war.