The policies of the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Al-Aqsa Mosque are resonating internationally, and the urgent matter has become related to the extent to which this government - the most right-wing and extremist - wants to take the legal and historical status of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
This question arises in light of the escalation of the practices of the Israeli extreme right, which have reached an advanced stage with an official description by Minister of Security Itamar Ben Gvir of the Al-Aqsa courtyards.
In this context came the visit of an American diplomatic delegation to Israel.
In the details of this visit, Jacqui Rosen, head of the delegation of US senators, requested that representatives of the "Jewish Greatness" and "Religious Zionism" parties not be included in the meetings held by the delegation during its visit to Israel.
The visit coincides with the affirmation of representatives and consuls from the European Union countries, during their visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque today, on the necessity of preserving the legal and historical status quo in it.
What is happening in Israel?
In this regard, the Palestinian writer and researcher Mueen Al-Taher indicated - in his interview with the "Beyond the News" program (18/1/2023) - that there is a major change occurring in Israel, due to religious Zionism, which will inevitably affect the Palestinians.
The decisions of the new government also affect the internal situation in Israel, which has been witnessing numerous demonstrations for days, protesting issues related to democracy and freedoms, which is also reflected in the Jews and supporters of Israel in America.
He believed that America and the European Union have been calling for a two-state solution in a formal way only for the past period, as there were no efforts to achieve this solution and stop settlements, indicating that America fears that Netanyahu's steps will lead to more tension and an explosion of the situation in Palestine.
The purpose of the visit
For his part, Joel Rubin, former deputy assistant to the US Secretary of State, said that the Israeli government is taking steps that cause great concern at home and abroad, and in this context the US delegation's visit to Tel Aviv comes to talk with leaders and officials, and evaluate their vision of some issues that concern America.
He gave an example of issues of concern to America: the issues of Palestine and Iran, explaining that the delegation will present a report to US President Joe Biden, given the existence of an internal American concern about Israeli measures that increase tension with the Palestinians.
It is noteworthy that, in addition to the message included in the American delegation’s request to exclude any meeting of its members with representatives of the “Jewish Greatness” and “Religious Zionism” parties, the meeting between 25 representatives and consuls from European Union countries and others with officials in the Islamic Endowments Department was an occasion in which they stressed Not to prejudice the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the need to avoid any actions that would escalate the situation in Jerusalem and the rest of the Palestinian territories.
Middle East situation
The situation in the Middle East was also the focus of a meeting of the UN Security Council, during which the various developments that escalated, especially after the formation of the new Israeli government led by Netanyahu in partnership with extreme right-wing parties, were reviewed.
While the representative of Palestine to the United Nations presented an inventory of what the government and the Israeli forces are doing against the Palestinians and their rights, causing more martyrs and wounded among them, the representative of Israel contented himself with considering what was said about the actions of the Netanyahu government as mere play, lies and falsification of reality, criticizing those who accept it, including the United Nations.