Ben Gvir asserts Jewish prayer rights, other parties protest in rage, while Netanyahu warns against deviations from status quo, igniting political backlash.

Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount today has reignited a heated controversy, with reactions pouring in from across the political spectrum. The visit, marked by the presence of over 1,600 Jewish worshippers, has triggered a wave of condemnations from Palestinian officials, ultra-Orthodox Jewish leaders, and opposition politicians, raising concerns about the fragile status quo at one of the most contested religious sites in the world.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a far-right figure known for his hardline views, was among those who visited the Temple Mount on Tisha B’Av, a day commemorating the destruction of the Jewish Temples. Ben Gvir, who has long advocated for Jewish prayer rights at the site, declared, “The national security minister’s policy is to enable freedom of worship for Jews at all places, including the Temple Mount, and Jews will continue to do so in the future as well.” He emphasized that “there is no law that permits engaging in racist discrimination against Jews at the Temple Mount or anywhere else in Israel.”

Ben Gvir’s actions and statements were met with sharp criticism from various quarters. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, responding to the situation, made it clear that Ben Gvir does not have the authority to set policy on the Temple Mount. “The setting of policy at the Temple Mount is directly subject to the government and the prime minister,” Netanyahu’s office stated. “There is no private policy by a specific minister at the Temple Mount—this is how it has been under all Israeli governments.” Netanyahu further stressed that “the incident this morning at the Temple Mount is a deviation from the status quo. Israel’s policy at the Temple Mount hasn’t changed—this is how it has been and how it will continue to be.”

Despite Netanyahu’s assurances, the visit by Ben Gvir and other far-right politicians has intensified tensions. Over 1,600 Jews entered the site, and many openly prayed, a significant breach of the unwritten agreement that governs the site, which permits Jews to visit but not to pray.

Criticism also came from within Netanyahu’s own coalition. Moshe Gafni, head of the Degel HaTorah faction of United Torah Judaism, accused Ben Gvir of causing “immense damage to the Jewish nation” and “unnecessary hate on Tisha B’Av,” warning that the faction might reconsider its partnership with Ben Gvir. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid condemned the visit, stating, “The bunch of irresponsible extremists in the government is trying to drag Israel to an all-out regional war. These people can’t run a country.”

The event has drawn international attention, with Jordan, which serves as the custodian of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, issuing a sharp rebuke. “We reject any attempts to change the historical and legal status quo at the Haram al-Sharif,” said the Jordanian Foreign Ministry. “These actions threaten to ignite a religious conflict with repercussions far beyond the region.”

The Temple Mount is one of the most sensitive religious sites in the world. It is revered by Jews as the location of the two ancient temples and claimed by Muslims as the third holiest site in Islam, housing the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. The status quo arrangement, in place since 1967, allows Muslims to pray on the site, while Jews and Christians are permitted to visit but not pray.