Prominent Israeli rabbis condemn provocations at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque after Ben-Gvir’s visit

By Mohammad Sio

ISTANBUL (AA) — Five prominent Israeli rabbis, including former Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef and Rabbi of the Old City of Jerusalem Avigdor Nebenzahl, condemned on Wednesday Israeli provocations at the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex following a visit by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the flashpoint site.

Around 2,250 illegal Israeli settlers, including Ben-Gvir, forced their way into the Al-Aqsa complex on Tuesday under Israeli police protection to commemorate Tisha B'Av, an annual Jewish fast day that marks the occurrence of several disasters in Jewish history.

"Our policy is to allow (Jewish) prayer," Ben-Gvir said during his incursion into the mosque.

In a video statement, the five rabbis emphasized that government ministers such as Ben-Gvir do not represent the views of the majority of Jews.

“I call on the nations of the world, do not see those government ministers as representing the people of Israel,” Yosef said in the video.

“Most of the Jews in the Land of Israel and in the world do not go up to the Temple Mount (Al-Aqsa Mosque). Please act to calm the spirits, we all believe in one God and want peace between the nations, and we must not let extreme fringes lead us,” he added.

Joining Yosef and Nebenzahl in the video were Rabbi Shmuel Betzalel, Rabbi David Cohen, and Rabbi Simcha Rabinowitz.

According to Haaretz newspaper, the video, which featured Arabic subtitles, was released following a request from Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion.

The mayor's office said that security officials had urged him to involve religious leaders in order to send a clear message aimed at reducing tensions.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is considered the third holiest site in Islam. Jews refer to the area as the Temple Mount, believing it to be the location of two ancient Jewish temples.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. In 1980, Israel annexed the entire city, a move that has never been recognized by the international community.