The Media Line: Biden Administration Slams Ben Gvir Over Temple Mount Remarks
Written by on August 28, 2024
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Biden Administration Slams Ben Gvir Over Temple Mount Remarks
By The Media Line Staff
The Biden Administration has sharply criticized Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir for advocating the establishment of a synagogue on the Temple Mount, a site also known as Haram al-Sharif and sacred to both Jews and Muslims. The US State Department issued the rebuke on Tuesday, condemning Ben Gvir’s comments as “sowing chaos” and undermining Israel’s security at a critical time. Ben Gvir made the controversial remarks during an interview earlier this week, where he enthusiastically supported the idea of placing a Jewish house of worship at the contested site.
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that such a move would show “blatant disregard for the historic status quo” at Jerusalem’s holy sites and warned that Ben Gvir’s actions could exacerbate tensions, particularly when Israel is facing threats from Iran and its proxy groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah.
The Biden Administration’s criticism of Ben Gvir follows earlier remarks against Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who was condemned for opposing a US-negotiated hostage-release deal. Despite considering sanctions against both Ben Gvir and Smotrich, the administration has not yet taken action.
In response to the backlash, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that there has been “no change to the official status quo on the Temple Mount,” although he did not directly address Ben Gvir by name. Ben Gvir’s advocacy for Jewish prayer rights at the Temple Mount, especially during his recent visit on the Jewish mourning day of Tisha B’Av, has sparked significant controversy and drawn condemnation from multiple quarters, including Saudi Arabia.
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