Israeli Minister Wants To Build Sinagoga At Al Aqsa Complex, Saudi Arabia: Respect Quo Status And Law

Jews at the Al Aqsa Mosque Complex. (Source: WAFA)

JAKARTA - Saudi Arabia has criticized the plan to build a fire at the Al Aqsa Mosque Complex voiced by Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

The statement issued by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed its rejection of the plan, although it did not mention the name Ben Gvir, said it used "a minister in an Israeli occupation government."

"The government affirms its firm rejection of this extremist and inciting statement and its rejection of the ongoing provocation of the feelings of Muslims around the world," the statement said.

The statement also emphasized the need for respect for the status quo and applicable laws of the Al Aqsa Mosque Complex.

"The government stressed the need to respect the historical and legal status quo at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, renewing its call to the international community to bear its responsibility in ending the humanitarian catastrophe experienced by Palestinian brothers and activating a serious mechanism to hold Israeli officials accountable for ongoing violations of the law, norms and international resolutions," the statement said.

Earlier, Palestinian Presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said Israel's far-right minister Itamar Ben Gvir's call to build a fire at the Al Aqsa Mosque Complex was very dangerous, stressing the Palestinian people would not accept any interference with Al-Aqsa, a red line that should not be disturbed at all.

The call to which was rejected and criticized to disturb the Al-Aqsa Mosque was an attempt to drag the region into a religious war that would burn everyone, emphasizing the Al-Haram Al-Sharif region, which covers 144 dunams (the Utsmaniyah Sultanate-era land area unit), only belongs to Muslims, launched WAFA

That was a response after Ben Gvir repeated calls for Jews to be allowed to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque Complex in Jerusalem.

"The policy allows prayers at Temple Mount, there is the same law between Jews and Muslims, I will build synagoge there," Ben-Gvir was quoted as saying by Army Radio in an upload on X.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office immediately issued a statement reaffirming Israel's official position, which accepted the old rules limiting non-Muslim prayers at the mosque complex, known as Temple Mount to Jews, which respects it as the site of two ancient temples.

"There is no change in the status quo at Temple Mount," said PM Netanyahu's office.

Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old Town is the holiest place in Jewish religion, as the location of two temples in the Bible. While Muslims, this is known as Haram al-Sharif or Your Holy Place, this place is home to Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.

Under the decades-long "status quo" arrangement with Muslim authorities, Israel allowed Jews to visit but should not pray.

Jordan has been the official guard of Muslim and Christian holy places in Jerusalem since 1924, and has openly been recognized as the guard of Jerusalem's holy sites.

The site is at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and suggestions for Israel to change rules about religious obedience there have led to violence in the past.