Former Israeli Knesset Speaker Abraham Burg has revealed that at least five extremist Israeli attempts have been made since 1967 to bomb Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. These attempts, carried out by radical Jewish groups, were aimed at removing Al-Aqsa from what is referred to as the “Temple Mount.”
In an interview with American media figure Tucker Carlson, Burg stated: “There have been at least five attempts to blow up Al-Aqsa Mosque, and I am not at all sure there weren’t more. These groups have sought to remove Al-Aqsa from the Temple Mount since 1967.” He added that the issue is not about how many support such actions, but rather about the determination and fanaticism of those willing to carry them out.
Carlson responded with visible shock, saying he was unaware of these attempts and asked whether they were indeed plots to bomb both Al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock. Burg confirmed: “Yes.”
The interview gained widespread traction across social media platforms, raising renewed questions about developments at Al-Aqsa, particularly as it remains closed for 25 consecutive days under the pretext of a state of emergency. This closure coincides with the joint US-Israeli military escalation against Iran that began on 28 February.
Escalating Incitement Against Al-Aqsa
Burg’s remarks come amid an intensifying extremist Israeli campaign targeting Al-Aqsa Mosque, including efforts to shut it down, prevent Muslim worship, and promote Talmudic agendas aimed at altering the status quo of the sacred site.
Israeli politicians and activists have increasingly used social media platforms to incite against Al-Aqsa. Former Knesset member Moshe Feiglin wrote on Instagram: “Something very good is happening to us. We continue to close the Temple Mount, and there has been no explosion or uprising, which means we are a regional power.”
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir further escalated tensions by sharing footage of Palestinians being suppressed while praying in streets near Al-Aqsa after being denied access. He stated: “Among the factors that contributed to the calm during Ramadan was the appointment of Avishai Feld as commander of the Jerusalem district… decisive, professional, strong, intelligent. When rioters test him, you will see what happens.”
Days earlier, after fragments of an Iranian missile landed inside the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City, just hundreds of metres from Al-Aqsa, right-wing journalist Yinon Magal openly incited targeting the المسجد itself. Posting on X, he wrote: “800 metres northeast please,” alongside an image of the mosque’s surroundings, in what was widely interpreted as a call for it to be struck directly next time.
In another incident, extremist rabbi Baruch Marzel نشر an AI-generated image depicting an airbase beneath Al-Aqsa, accompanied by a sarcastic claim of a “secret air force base in Jerusalem.”
A Systematic Escalation and Imposed Reality
Activists stressed that Burg’s statements are not new, noting that the occupation has for years continued incursions into Al-Aqsa and imposed severe restrictions as part of a broader plan, particularly under an increasingly extremist Israeli government.
They argued that repeated statements from prominent Israeli figures reinforce the belief that these actions are not isolated incidents, but rather reflect a growing trend within decision-making circles to gradually alter the existing reality of Al-Aqsa and impose new conditions on the ground.
Observers also pointed out that the ongoing closure of Al-Aqsa for 25 days under emergency pretexts has effectively prevented prayer, raising serious concerns about the absence of oversight regarding what is taking place inside the compound.
More alarming, according to activists, is the simultaneous rise in settler incitement and calls to perform so-called “sacrificial rituals” داخل المسجد itself. This represents a dangerous escalation that directly threatens the sanctity of the site and risks igniting a wider confrontation.
This parallel track of physical closure and digital incitement reflects a gradual strategy aimed at reshaping the status quo at Al-Aqsa, amid warnings of severe consequences for its historical and legal standing.
Continued Restrictions Amid Regional Escalation
Israeli measures against Al-Aqsa have intensified since the outbreak of the joint US-Israeli war on Iran on 28 February. Authorities have imposed a full closure of the mosque under the pretext of preventing gatherings, citing security procedures.
These actions have been met with repeated condemnations from Arab and Islamic countries, as concerns grow over the future of one of Islam’s most sacred sites under an escalating campaign of restriction, incitement, and structural change.
