Controversial far-right Israeli politician Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Al Aqsa compound in Jerusalem on Tuesday, which could significantly inflame tensions in the region.
The visit, under strict police control, took place early in the morning and in secret, a sign of the controversy surrounding it.
Ben-Gvir, who was recently named national security minister in the new Netanyahu government, is the first Jewish minister to visit the holy site in five years. It was condemned by the Palestinian Authority as “an unprecedented provocation”.
In recent days, Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza, warned that a visit by Mr Ben-Gvir would “explode the situation”.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who was defeated in last November’s election, also warned against the visit and tweeted that it was a “deliberate provocation” that would “cost lives”.
In response, Ben-Gvir said he continued his visit because he was not going to be deterred by Hamas threats.
“Those who make threats will be dealt with with an iron fist,” he warned in a statement after the visit. “The Jews will climb the mountain”.
Al Aqsa compound, known as Haram al Sharif in Arabic, is a large square in the Old City of Jerusalem and the third holiest site in Islam, after Medina and Mecca.
To Jews it is known as the Temple Mount, the site of the first temple built by King David’s son Solomon.
The Western Wall, or “Kotel” in Hebrew, is the last remaining outer wall of the temple and therefore the holiest site in the Jewish faith. As such, the site has long been disputed by Muslims and Jews, who both claim it.
Israel captured the site from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day War, but the Jordanians remain official custodians of the site under a 1994 peace accord.
Under this sensitive status quo, only Muslims are allowed to pray inside Haram al Sharif, with others allowed to visit at strict hours during the day. Jewish prayer is strictly prohibited at the site, although there are many examples of this being ignored by a minority.
Mr Ben-Gvir has repeatedly claimed it was an act of racism to prevent Jews from praying on the Temple Mount and said he would try to change the laws to allow them to do so.
Relations between Benjamin Netanyahu and Jordan have previously been poor, and Mr. Ben-Gvir’s visit is expected to worsen them, especially so early in Israel’s new term as prime minister.
In a separate incident, also on Tuesday, a fifteen-year-old Palestinian boy was shot dead by Israeli soldiers during fighting near Bethlehem.
