Germany condemns Israeli visit to al-Aqsa mosque

In a statement, the German Foreign Ministry said that Germany rejects unilateral measures that endanger the historic status of the height of the holy sites, and it expects the government of Israel to refrain from such provocations.

Israel’s far-right Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Haram al-Sharif, or the Temple Mount as Israel calls it, on Tuesday. Together with several thousand Jews, he prayed in front of al-Aqsa Mosque.

Jews can visit the hill, but are not allowed to pray or display religious symbols. The area is the third holiest site for Muslims, while the Wailing Wall, which is the last remnant of the old temple, is the holiest site for Jews.

Such visits have previously triggered widespread unrest and protests in Jerusalem. Ben-Gvir’s visit has been condemned by a number of other countries, both Muslim and Western, as well as the EU and the UN.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the visit a provocation and asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent more such visits at a time when all attention should be on achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Old City and all of East Jerusalem were occupied by Israel in 1967, but it is still the Jordanian WAQF that oversees the holy height with the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque.