Israel’s extremist national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has visited the holiest Muslim site in Jerusalem, the al-Aqsa compound, in a provocative move as he seeks to disrupt ceasefire talks. Ben-Gvir, an ultranationalist and scion of the settler movement, recorded footage at the compound, also known to Jews as the Temple Mount. Visits by Israeli ministers to the site or incursions by Israeli security forces have proved to be a trigger for protests and violence in the past. Under an existing agreement called the status quo, Muslims are allowed to pray on the site whereas people from other faith communities can only visit

Source: The North Africa Journal July 18, 2024 23:54 UTC