Palestinians and Arab countries condemn the visit of Israeli Minister Ben Gvir to the Esplanade of Mosques

• Middle East Itamar Ben Gvir, the radical star of the Israeli electoral campaign

For the first time as a member of the Israeli Government, without announcing it in advance and under strong protection, the ultra-nationalist

visited the Esplanade of the Mosques (Islam) or Temple Mount (Judaism) in Jerusalem early in the morning despite threats from the Islamist group Hamas for a response and perhaps a new escalation.

"The Government will not surrender to a vile murderous organization. The Temple Mount is open to all," he stated a few days after taking office as Minister of National Security in charge of the Police.

His brief and very early visit by surprise (to avoid protests) to

It has been condemned by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and several Arab and Muslim countries such as Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Jordan, which through the Islamic entity

has a predominant role in the administration of the Esplanade of the Mosques, affirms that "it is a provocative step (...) Israel will assume full responsibility for the dangerous consequences of this escalation" .

Beyond its special ties to the sanctuary, the Hashemite monarchy never had good relations with Israeli Prime Minister

, who returned to power last Thursday after a year and a half in opposition.

The United States has expressed its discontent with its great ally in the region.

Israeli sources clarify that the visit respected the

according to which non-Muslims also have the right to visit the esplanade as long as they do not pray.

Ben Gvir, who, due to his past marked by racist provocations and convictions for supporting terrorism, is the most controversial figure in the ultra-conservative government coalition, visited this sanctuary numerous times.

and without the media after three days of speculation and warnings.

On Sunday, KAN public television revealed Ben Gvir's intention to visit this week after not doing so since the November 1 elections.

The most probable date cited was this Tuesday in which religious Jews fast on the occasion of

10 .

Hamas and Islamic Jihad called on Palestinians in Jerusalem to flock to prevent it and warned Israel with a harsh reaction.

Some Islamist leaders even spoke that the visit could open the door to a "new Intifada."

Ben Gvir then met with Netanyahu, who does not want to start the mandate of his sixth coalition with a violent crisis with the Palestinians and a diplomatic one with Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, Morocco and the UAE.

In addition, he had planned to visit the latter country next week, but today it was announced that it will not be possible "for logistical reasons."

Everything seemed to indicate that Ben Gvir agreed to postpone his visit and did not promise to do it now but in "the next few weeks."

In practice, Netanyahu gave him the green light, although conditioning it at the discretion of the security organizations.

Thus, Ben Gvir met with the head of the internal security service (Shabak), Ronen Bar, who told him that there were no concrete warnings of disorders or attacks in case he fulfilled his promise to visit the sanctuary.

Of course, he asked him to do it quickly,

.

In other words, without attracting the usual attention at other times and with few people in the place to avoid protests and riots.

His visit lasted 13 minutes, as Palestinians remind him on social media as proof that

The leak on Sunday and especially the threats from Hamas contributed to his finally making the visit because otherwise he would have been heavily criticized by his people who voted for him precisely with the message of "not capitulating to the terrorists."

"The Temple Mount is the most important place for the Jewish people, we maintain freedom of movement (to go) for Muslims and Christians, but Jews will also climb the Mount and those who make threats must be treated with an iron fist," he said. Ben Gvir who did not speak of "religious freedom" for Jews when in the electoral campaign he denounced "the racism that allows Muslims to pray but not Jews."

In the coalition agreement, the far-right leader promised to respect the

although in recent years, the Palestinian leadership denounces that it has already been broken with a greater presence of Jewish visitors on the Esplanade.

a disputed place

Located in the Old City, it is a place administered by the

and controlled by Israel since it occupied the eastern part of Jordan in the 1967 war. The site includes the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa mosques, considered the third Holiest place for Muslims after Mecca and Medina.

The main ultra-Orthodox rabbis, including the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, strongly oppose Jews accessing the place where the Second Temple was, alleging

(Jewish religious law) while the most nationalist Jewish sectors do so not only from the point of view religious but also national as a claim to sovereignty.

For Jews it is

and for Muslims

.

The PNA has "strongly condemned the assault on the Al-Aqsa Mosque by extremist minister Ben-Gvir and considers it

and a dangerous escalation of the conflict."

Ismail Radwan, one of the leaders of Hamas, asked Israel to remember what happened in May 2021 when his group, alluding to "the defense of Al Aqsa and Jerusalem", launched several projectiles from the Gaza Strip against this city, starting the an intense climb.

Still, there is no concrete threat from the armed factions in Gaza like then.

Several Arab countries have alerted Israel, according to the

, before a possible outbreak of violence at the end of March in the always sensitive month of Ramadan that this year also coincides with the Jewish Passover and also due to possible actions by Ben Gvir in the Esplanade of the Mosques.

For now, the escalation continues in the West Bank with attacks, raids and armed confrontations.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health,

by Israeli fire during clashes that took place during a raid near Bethlehem.

At the start of the first government meeting held at noon in Jerusalem, Netanyahu did not dedicate a word to Ben Gvir's visit but rather to criticize the previous Executive and above all his main issue for 15 years: avoiding a nuclear Iran.

The one who has spoken is the former prime minister and head of the opposition, Yair Lapid, who has stated: "The State of Israel does not receive dictates from anyone about its security but fights with half the world just so that Ben Gvir spends 13 minutes on Mount of the Temple is a political irresponsibility and an incredible weakness of Netanyahu in front of his ministers".

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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