Iran Press/America: "The United States strongly opposes Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit to the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount on August 13, which demonstrated blatant disregard for the historic status quo concerning the holy sites in Jerusalem," Blinken stated in a Tuesday press release.
His comments followed an incident in which approximately 2,250 illegal Israeli settlers, along with Ben-Gvir, fellow Otzma Yehudit party Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf, and Likud party Knesset member Amit Halevi, stormed the complex to commemorate Tisha B'Av, an annual Jewish fasting day.
"These provocative actions only exacerbate tensions at a pivotal moment when all focus should be on ongoing diplomatic efforts to achieve a cease-fire agreement, secure the release of all hostages, and create conditions for broader regional stability," Blinken added.
Blinken emphasized that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has indicated that Ben-Gvir's actions are "inconsistent" with Israeli policy. He stated that the U.S. will look to the Israeli government to prevent similar incidents in the future.
"The United States reaffirms our commitment to the preservation of the historic status quo and will continue to oppose unilateral steps that are counterproductive to achieving peace and stability and undermine Israel’s security," he said.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque is regarded as the third-holiest site in Islam, while 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 and annexed the entire city in 1980, a move that has never been recognized by the international community.
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