Hadash and Communist Party Condemn Jewish Visits to Temple Mount as Provocation

Hadash and the Communist Party issued a joint condemnation of Jewish visits to the Temple Mount, describing the site as exclusively Muslim holy land and a symbol of Palestinian national sovereignty in East Jerusalem. The statement, released in Arabic, criticized what it called a "fascist breach" of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Tisha B'Av, attributing the incident to extremist settler groups led by far-right Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Likud MK Amit Halevi.

The parties argued that this was not an isolated event but part of a systematic policy by the right-wing settler government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow Jewish access to the Temple Mount, challenging the existing arrangement that allocates usage times between Muslims and Jews. They emphasized that the site belongs solely to Muslims and represents Palestinian national sovereignty in East Jerusalem.

The joint statement framed the Jewish visits on Tisha B'Av as integral to ongoing aggression against Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem, including killings, expulsions, starvation, and the unleashing of settler violence. They warned that such actions could spark a dangerous religious war. Hadash and the Communist Party underscored the importance of efforts to topple the "fascist right-wing government" and halt settlement expansion and racial supremacy policies.