National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir spoke today (Wednesday) at the 'Israeli Return to the Temple Mount' conference he initiated in the Knesset, and said that the State of Israel will still control the Mount.
"He who controls the Temple Mount controls the Land of Israel," said Ben Gvir. "With God's help, we will control the Temple Mount, we need to strengthen it even more. I believe that even better days will come."
He added an explosive statement, against the backdrop of Netanyahu's diplomatic visit to the United States: "I was on the Temple Mount last week, I prayed on the Temple Mount, we pray on the Mount. I am the political echelon and the political echelon permits Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount."
Ben-Gvir emphasized: "Jews are still discriminated against on the Temple Mount. I had an argument with the prime minister when they closed the Mount at the end of Ramadan. The Mount should not be closed for a single minute. The police arrested me in the past when I shouted on the Mount, 'Am Yisrael Chai.' This is ours and this is how it should be. On my watch, Jews will not be discriminated against on the Temple Mount."
Interior Minister Moshe Arbel condemned the conference in the Knesset plenary session: "The ban on ascending the Temple Mount is the position of all the great men of Israel for their generations, and this issue is so explosive, and the desecration of the great name committed in the ban on cutting cannot pass quietly."
Degel Hatorah Chairman MK Moshe Gafni issued a statement: "Ascension to the Temple Mount involves a strict prohibition of compulsory circumcision. I demand that the Prime Minister not allow changes to the status quo on the Temple Mount, and if there are any changes, then to close the Temple Mount to Jews."
The Prime Minister's Office responded to Ben-Gvir: "Israel's policy to maintain the status quo on the Temple Mount has not changed and will not change."
In early June, Ben-Gvir said that his policy is that Jews can pray on the Temple Mount. "My policy is very clear on this matter - Jews can be anywhere in Jerusalem and pray anywhere and not in a whisper. Jews prayed on the Temple Mount, that is the minister's policy. Jews pray on the Temple Mount and that is good."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded, after Saudi Arabia condemned: "The status quo has not changed and will not change."
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