RUSSIA on Wednesday (14/8) expressed its concern over Israeli security official Itamar Ben-Gvir’s raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem.
On Tuesday (13/8), the far-right official stormed the compound with more than 2,000 radical Israelis, praying, waving flags and singing the national anthem despite existing rules prohibiting Jews from praying at the Muslim holy site.
In a video he recorded, Ben-Gvir said, “Our policy is to allow Jews to pray (in this place).” He also vowed to defeat Hamas in Gaza.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Moscow was deeply concerned about the Israeli officials’ raid on the compound, describing it as another provocative act.
“The Israeli authorities should not limit themselves to condemning them, but take effective measures to stop this cruel practice that grossly violates the status quo of Jerusalem’s holy places enshrined in the 1994 Jordan-Israel peace agreement,” the statement said.
“Such behavior by supporters of religious Zionism is, unfortunately, commonplace,” he added.
Also read: OIC Condemns Israeli Minister Leading Extremist Settlers to Storm Al-Aqsa Mosque
The statement further said that such actions contribute to fueling radical sentiments both in Israeli society and among Palestinians and undermine international efforts aimed at de-escalating violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict zone amid ongoing hostilities in the Gaza Strip.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is considered the third holiest site in Islam. Jews refer to the area as the Temple Mount, which is believed to be the location of two ancient Jewish temples.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. In 1980, it annexed the entire city, a move never recognized by the international community. (Ant/Z-2)
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