The holding of a government meeting in the tunnels of the Western Wall and the ascent to the Temple Mount by the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, aroused the Palestinian nationalists and the Arab world who cried out for a dangerous escalation in Al-Aqsa. Beginning in the morning, the Palestinian media covered Minister Ben Gvir’s ascension to the Temple Mount.
"The so-called Minister of National Security in the occupation government, Itamar Ben Gvir, attacked again this morning in a blatant manner and desecrated the Al-Aqsa Mosque. He thinks that by attacking the mosque, by performing his Talmudic ceremony and his passionate statements, he will be able to achieve his dream and goal, to Judaize the Al-Aqsa Mosque, as if he is not aware of the consequences of these provocations," the Waqf's Ministry of Religion said in a statement.
#Jerusalem, Zion, has been the center of the #Jewish people for more than 3,000 years. It will always remain our capital.
— Amb. Yacov Livne 🇮🇱 (@YacovLivne) May 21, 2023
At its meeting today, in the Western Wall Tunnels, Israeli Cabinet decided to upgrade infrastructure and encourage visits to the Western Wall. https://t.co/yoeICAl2JI pic.twitter.com/kI2BqZrOEB
Also, the various Arab media channels also criticized the existence of the government meeting that took place at noon in the tunnels of the Western Wall, tunnels that were largely built by ancient Jews. One local Palestinian channel ignored the Jewish heritage of the city and said: "No less dangerous is the existence of the occupation government meeting in the area of ​​the Al-Burak Wall in the western wall of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This is a clear message of a systematic escalation that ignores the city's authentic Arab Islamic history and heritage."
a response to Palestinian president Abu Mazen who said a few days ago that the Jewish people have nothing to do with Jerusalem and the Haram here!
— Dalal IRIQAT دلال عريقات (@DalalIRIQAT) May 21, 2023
Netanyahu’s cabinet meeting came to draw Abbas’s attention from the depths of Jerusalem and its Haram! pic.twitter.com/aJEb7dFgCm
They also against an escalation and added that "the occupation government and its military arms are responsible for the consequences of this extremely dangerous move that affects the entire city and the holy places of Islam, and above all, the Al-Aqsa Mosque; which will cause a flare-up and religious conflict in the region and in the entire world."
The deep ties between the Jewish People and Jerusalem is one that has no parallel among the nations.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) May 21, 2023
For over 100 generations, Jews expressed their special yearning for Jerusalem in prayers that are repeated three times a day and under the wedding canopy.
The director general of the Islamic Waqf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Directorate, Azzam Al-Khatib, condemned Minister Ben Gvir's statements, according to which Israel owns the house on the mountain, and claimed that these statements are very dangerous "We need international protection in the city of Jerusalem. The right-wing Israeli government behaves arrogantly and forcefully, therefore there is a need for an Arab Muslim effort and support for the position of the King of Jordan and Jordan's position in the mosque."
Muhammad Elhabesh, Abu Mazen's adviser on religious and Islamic affairs, warned that the "continuation of the settlers' assault led by the extremist minister Itamar Ben Gvir on the Al- Aksa will lead to a flare-up. We consider the occupation government to be responsible for the consequences." Munther Al-Hayik, the spokesman for the Fatah movement, referred to the government meeting and said "The existence of the government meeting under the Al-Burak Wall will not change the historical and religious reality of Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the State of Palestine."
