Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir
Far-right 'Israeli' minister visits Aqsa, signals crackdown on worshippers
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Far-right 'Israeli' National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday, heading a meeting in the police command room to “assess the situation” in Jerusalem.
The session included Police Commissioner Dani Levi, Jerusalem District Commander Avshi Feld, and senior security officials to coordinate field operations for managing worshippers during Ramadan.
Support for police, threats to protesters
During his tour near the Moroccan Gate, Ben-Gvir addressed dozens of police officers, pledging “full support” for necessary measures. He emphasized strict enforcement, saying, “Governance and firmness are the path to deterrence, even during Ramadan.”
While mentioning “freedom of worship,” Ben-Gvir warned of harsh action against those he called troublemakers: “Through deterrence we achieve sovereignty, and with deterrence people will not dare to misbehave.” He added he was willing to provide political cover for police operations.
Concerns of rising tensions in Jerusalem
Hebrew media reported Ben-Gvir’s insistence that imposing control is the only way to enforce deterrence, reflecting far-right moves to tighten restrictions on worshippers entering the holy site.
His visit and statements raise fears of a new wave of escalation in Jerusalem, as many view the minister’s presence as an attempt to impose a stricter security reality over the city’s sacred sites during a sensitive period of Ramadan.
