How are Ben-Gvir’s statements threatening the status quo in Al-Aqsa Mosque?

Fayha’ Shalash 

Source: Al Mayadeen English

In practice, the eastern courtyard of the Al-Aqsa Mosque is being treated as an “undeclared synagogue,” where the invading settlers perform their rituals during the periods of incursion.  

The recent statements of Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir constituted another escalation toward imposing a new reality in the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Ben-Gvir confirmed his intention to build a synagogue in the Al-Aqsa Mosque to facilitate holding prayers for the settlers there, a few weeks after he called on settlers to perform prayers openly in the mosque.

On the other hand, the extremist Israeli government announced for the first time that it is going to fund settlers’ incursions into Al-Aqsa. The Israeli Ministry of Heritage will allocate a budget of two million shekels (about $540,000) for this purpose. This decision, according to the Israeli Kan channel, came with the support of Ben-Gvir’s party and the deputy police chief appointed by the minister.

Unacceptable and Illegal

All these developments occurred while the Israeli police were tightening restrictions on Muslim worshippers, preventing hundreds from entering the mosque and issuing deportation decisions against more than a thousand Palestinians.

Sheikh Ikrimah Sabri, the preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the highest-ranking figure in occupied al-Quds, was arrested and investigated less than a month ago. Subsequently, a decision was issued to ban him from the Mosque and prohibit his entry for six months, with the possibility of renewal.

In response to Ben-Gvir’s statements, Sabri told Al Mayadeen English that the purpose of these measures was to secure the votes of the Israeli public, which he believes is increasingly inclined towards extremism and fanaticism.

He stated that the policy of preventing him and other Muslims from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque is unacceptable, illegal, and in violation of international laws and freedom of worship.

“The aim of this is to vacate Al-Aqsa of Muslims and to make way for the settlers, who aggressively storm it under heavy protection from the police. This means that the Israeli government is directly responsible for these incursions and the violations that occur,” he elaborated.

“We affirm our legitimate right to Al-Aqsa, and the Jews have no claim to it,” the Sheik further stressed. 

Undeclared synagogue

Since Ben-Gvir assumed his position as police minister in January 2023, he has stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque six times – three of them after the outbreak of the war on Gaza – and has publicly confirmed the policy of allowing zionists to perform rituals in Al-Aqsa four times so far. The extremist minister is part of a religious Zionist movement that seeks to reproduce Zionism as a nationalist and religious movement.

Ziad Ibhais, a researcher in Al-Aqsa affairs, told Al Mayadeen English that he interprets Bin-Gvir’s statements as an expression of a practical agenda. Upon assuming his position, Ben-Gvir received a list of 11 demands from a coalition of extremist Temple organizations. These demands included allowing unsolicited storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque, increased protection for zionists while storming the mosque, allowing them to perform their rituals, introducing biblical prayer tools, and the construction of a synagogue in Al-Aqsa. 

According to Ibhais, the eastern courtyard of the Al-Aqsa Mosque is practically considered an “undeclared synagogue.” During stormings, settlers perform their rituals, while worshipers, stationers, Al-Aqsa guards, and Endowment employees are prevented from entering or even approaching the Mosque. 

“The Israeli minister is trying to establish a reality that they had been setting the stage for, aiming to completely replace and transform Al-Aqsa Mosque in its entirety into a temple. This must be taken seriously and confronted in all possible ways. We can start by breaking the rules they have set for the Mosque's eastern courtyard,” Ibhais confirmed. 

Ben-Gvir and Netanyahu are deliberately engaging in a role-playing game. While Ben-Gvir imposes specific changes, Netanyahu goes along with those changes and subsequently declares adherence to the newly established "status quo". 

In practice, since August 13, 2024, the ritual of “epic prostration” has been performed en masse during almost every storming of Al-Aqsa. This ritual, which was the first time that it was ever held, builds on previous gradual attacks intended to erase the Islamic identity of the Mosque. 

“Ben-Gvir's statements came during the eleventh month of the war, which affirms that this war and its predecessors are in continuation of the project of religious replacement in Al-Aqsa. Despite setbacks imposed by wars and uprisings and the resulting shaken confidence in the Zionist project, the efforts to change the Mosque's identity are still ongoing,” he further explained.