Israeli ultranationalist minister visits Jerusalem holy site

JERUSALEM (AP) — An ultranationalist Israeli Cupboard minister visited a flashpoint Jerusalem holy website for the primary time Tuesday since taking workplace in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new far-right authorities final week.

Itamar Ben-Gvir entered the positioning identified to Jews because the Temple Mount and to Muslims because the Noble Sanctuary flanked by a big contingent of law enforcement officials.

Ben-Gvir has lengthy known as for higher Jewish entry to the holy website, which is seen by Palestinians as provocative and as a possible precursor to Israel taking full management over the compound. Most rabbis forbid Jews from praying on the positioning, however there was a rising motion lately of Jews who help worship there.

The location has been the scene of frequent clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli safety forces, most just lately in April final 12 months.

Ben-Gvir’s said intention of visiting the positioning earlier this week drew threats from the Islamic militant group Hamas.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem stated that Ben-Gvir getting into the positioning on Tuesday was “a continuation of the Zionist’s occupation aggression on our sacred locations and warfare on our Arab identification.”

“Our Palestinian individuals will proceed defending their holy locations and Al-Aqsa mosque,” he stated.

The hilltop shrine is the third-holiest website in Islam and an emotional image for the Palestinians. It sits on a sprawling esplanade that is also the holiest website for Jews, who name it to the Temple Mount as a result of it was the placement of two Jewish temples in antiquity.

The competing claims to the positioning lie on the coronary heart of the Israeli-Palestinian battle and have sparked quite a few rounds of violence prior to now.

Ben-Gvir is head of the ultranationalist non secular Jewish Energy faction and has a historical past of inflammatory remarks and actions in opposition to Palestinians.