Different From Its Minister, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Affirms No Changes In Worship Arrangements In Jerusalem

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu/PHOTO via Instagram @b.netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday there was no change in the arrangement of worship in the holy place of conflict in Jerusalem's Old City, after a far-right minister in his governing coalition declared a policy change.

The complex in the walled Kota Tua houses the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third Muslim holy place, and is also respected in Your Economy as Mount Temple, the remainder of the two ancient temples.

This site is the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Based on the state quo' arrangement that has been going on for decades with Muslim authorities.

Israel allowed Jews to visit on the condition that they did not perform religious rituals.

"Israel's policy in maintaining the status quo in the Holy Bait Hill has not changed and will not change," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

Netanyahu is currently in Washington, where he will address Congress. Any changes to Israel's policies at the site are likely to trigger political friction.

Earlier, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Israel's political echelon, where he became one of its members, "allows Jews to pray in the Holy Bait Hill".

Ben-Gvir leads the far-right party and opposes the Palestinian state.

Netanyahu has often rejected the idea of a hardline policy put forward by Ben-Gvir, which was also not included in the narrow decision-making forum during the war against Hamas in Gaza.