The Israeli government has committed to financing the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by illegal Israeli settlers, according to Israeli media reports on Monday, marking an inflammatory first for the Israeli regime.
Israeli public broadcaster KAN11 revealed that the office of “Heritage” Minister Amichai Eliyahu, an extremist known for his anti-Palestinian stance, will allocate two million NIS (approximately $545,000) for this controversial project slated for implementation in the coming weeks.
KAN11 further reported that the “Heritage” Ministry has been in contact with the Police Ministry, led by the far-right Itamar Ben-Gvir, to secure the necessary permissions from Israeli police for the settlers’ funded incursions into al-Aqsa.
Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas condemned the decision, saying it was a dangerous escalation further labeling it as playing with fire that will lead the region to a religious war.
This announcement follows a statement made by Ben-Gvir on Monday during an interview with the Israeli Army Radio, where he reiterated his policy of allowing Israeli settlers to perform prayers inside the al-Aqsa Mosque. Ben-Gvir emphasized that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was aware of this policy prior to the formation of the coalition government.
The inflammatory nature of the plan is exacerbated because it contradicts Netanyahu’s repeated claims of preserving the status quo at al-Aqsa Mosque. The status quo, established before the Israeli occupation of eastern al-Quds in 1967, placed the holy site under the authority of the Islamic Waqf of al-Quds, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Endowments.
However, since 2003, Israeli authorities have altered this arrangement by allowing settlers to enter the al-Aqsa Mosque without the approval of the Islamic Waqf, with the latter repeatedly calling for an end to these incursions.
In a further escalation, Ben-Gvir suggested on Monday that Jews have the right to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque, even going so far as to propose the construction of a synagogue within the compound, marking yet another first
Repeated stormings
Ben-Gvir’s statements come a couple of weeks after hundreds of settlers, including the Israeli police minister, raided the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of occupation police forces.
The Islamic Endowments Department in al-Quds reported that 2,200 settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque since morning, marking what is known as the anniversary of the “destruction of the temple.”
At the time, on-ground correspondent in occupied Palestine indicated that the settlers raised the entity’s flag inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque at Bab al-Silsila while carrying out provocative tours inside the holy mosque.
It is noteworthy that in early July, Ben-Gvir declared during a speech at the so-called “Jerusalem Day Flag March,” Israeli “sovereignty” over the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
“Temple Mount is ours, Damascus Gate is ours, let the whole world know that,” he said, adding, “Today, according to my policy, Jews entered the Old City freely. And on the Temple Mount Jews prayed freely. We say in the simplest way, it’s ours.”
Ben-Gvir has included changes to the status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque in his ministry’s formal action plans. His plan aims to alter the status quo at the Mosque by taking control of the site and allowing access to Israeli settlers.
