Saudi Arabia leads chorus of condemnation following Israeli minister’s ‘provocative’ visit to Al-Aqsa

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Saudi Arabia has led a refrain of condemnation following a go to on Tuesday through Israel`s far-proper countrywide protection minister to Jerusalem`s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

The move, through firebrand Itamar Ben-Gvir, has enraged Palestinians, even as the United States warned of steps that can damage the popularity quo.The Kingdom`s Foreign Ministry issued a announcement wherein it denounced the “provocative movement” through the Israeli official.

Ben-Gvir`s go to to the webweb page, below heavy protection, prompted a wave of condemnations through Arab states and companies who noticed the act as a flagrant violation of the sanctity of the location.The Organization of Islamic Cooperation defined the go to “as a part of Israel`s tries to alternate the prevailing historic and felony popularity of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

The OIC introduced it taken into consideration the act “a provocation to the emotions of all Muslims and a flagrant violation of applicable worldwide resolutions.”Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh claimed the go to changed into an strive to show the mosque complex “right into a Jewish temple.”

Addressing his Cabinet, Shtayyeh known as on Palestinians to “confront the raids into Al-Aqsa Mosque.”The Palestinian Foreign Ministry stated it “strongly condemns the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque through the extremist minister Ben-Gvir and perspectives it as an unparalleled provocation and a risky escalation of the conflict.”

The Foreign Ministry of Egypt — which serves as a key mediator in Gaza — warned “of the terrible results of such moves on protection and stability” withinside the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the broader region.Jordan stated it condemned withinside the “severest of terms” the go to to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and violating its sanctity.”

Its Foreign Ministry introduced that the go to antagonistic worldwide regulation and “the anciental and felony popularity quo in Jerusalem.”The UAE condemned Ben-Gvir’s “storming” of Al-Aqsa, even as Kuwait issued a comparable announcement.

A White House National Security Council spokesperson known as on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold his dedication to holy webweb sites, and introduced: “The United States stands firmly for the maintenance of the popularity quo with recognize to the holy webweb sites in Jerusalem.“Any unilateral movement that jeopardizes the popularity quo is unacceptable.Ben-Gvir tweeted after his go to: “We are a central authority that doesn’t give up to the threats of Hamas.The Temple Mount (Al-Aqsa Mosque) is the maximum crucial location for the humans of Israel.

We hold freedom of worship for Muslims and Christians, however the Jews additionally have the proper to the location and to move as much as it.We have to address an iron fist towards absolutely everyone who threatens us.”Palestinian Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs Hatem Al-Bakri stated that Israeli settlers had improved incursions into Al-Aqsa throughout December.

Israeli Army Radio mentioned that the leader of the country`s protection company Shin Bet and Israel`s police leader had given the inexperienced mild to Ben-Gvir`s trip.Israel`s protection offerings raised their country of alert following the go to after threats from Hamas and Islamic Jihad.Palestinian factions known as at the humans of the West Bank to strengthen their competition to the Israeli military and settlers in protection of Al-Aqsa.

They additionally known as at the Palestinian Authority to forestall protection coordination with the Israeli military.Mukhaimer Abu Saada, a professor of political technology at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, advised Arab News that each Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir misled the Palestinians approximately the go to, which had taken location while there have been no Palestinians internal Al-Aqsa Mosque.

He advised Arab News: “I consider that Hamas will now no longer cross for an armed escalation, however it could react circuitously withinside the coming days, both through firing a missile or capturing on the Israeli forces deployed alongside the border with the Gaza Strip.If Ben-Gvir`s go to had taken location openly, it’d had been understood as a undertaking to Hamas, and the scenario could had been extra tough and complicated.”

A US Embassy spokesperson stated Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides “has been very clean in conversations with the Israeli authorities on the difficulty of maintaining the popularity quo in Jerusalem`s holy webweb sites. Actions that save you which are unacceptable.”Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the Palestinian presidential spokesman, stated Ben-Gvir`s go to changed into a undertaking to the Palestinian humans, the Arab nation, and the worldwide community.

A announcement from the United Kingdom stated: “We are involved through the go to to Haram Al-Sharif/Temple Mount through minister Ben-Gvir today.The UK stays dedicated to the popularity quo, and all have to keep away from moves which inflame tensions and undermine the reason of peace.”Ben-Gvir`s go to got here simply days after he took workplace as countrywide protection minister, with powers over police.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third-holiest location in Islam and the maximum sacred webweb page to Jews, who seek advice from the compound because the Temple Mount.Under a long-status agreement, non-Muslims can go to the webweb page at precise instances however aren’t allowed to wish there.

In current years, a developing wide variety of Jews, maximum of them Israeli nationalists, have covertly prayed on the compound.Situated withinside the walled Old City of Israel-annexed East Jerusalem, the compound is run through Jordan`s Waqf Council, with Israeli forces working there and controlling access.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces shot lifeless Adam Ayad, 16, throughout their incursion into the Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem early on Tuesday.It delivered to 3 the wide variety of Palestinians killed through Israeli forces withinside the first 3 days of 2023. A complete protest strike has been introduced in Bethlehem.