National Security Minister Ben-Gvir Enters Temple Mount With Prayer Book, Violating Status Quo

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has entered the Temple Mount complex while holding a prayer book, a move that reportedly violates the established status quo guidelines for the holy site. The incident, detailed by "Israel Hayom," comes after weeks of Ben-Gvir's efforts to promote an official pilot program that would permit Jewish worshippers to bring religious items, such as prayer books and prayer shawls, to the site.

However, this initiative faced opposition from senior police officials, including the Police Commissioner, who withheld approval due to concerns about potential security repercussions and escalating tensions. Ben-Gvir's actions are seen as a direct contravention of these directives.

This is not the first time Ben-Gvir's visits to the Temple Mount have sparked significant political and diplomatic controversy. In 2023, his second visit to the site since taking office, which occurred shortly after Jerusalem Day, was also contentious. That visit, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was aware of, was accompanied by a defiant public statement to the press: "We are the homeowners here," a declaration that elicited widespread and strong reactions both domestically and internationally.