DUBAI — As the war in Gaza drags on, Gulf countries are expressing concern about encroachments on Jerusalem’s Haram Al-Sharif area, what Jews call the Temple Mount. Led by Riyadh, the Gulf states on Tuesday condemned comments by a far-right Israeli minister who called for a synagogue to be built in Al-Aqsa, one of Islam’s holiest sites.
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said in an interview on Monday that Jews who are banned from praying at the site should be allowed to do so and that a synagogue should be built there.
“The Temple Mount policy says you are allowed to pray there, period,” Ben Gvir said. “When I joined the government, the prime minister knew that no discrimination would be tolerated. Muslims are allowed to pray, but Jews are not allowed to pray?”
Gulf States’ Reaction
Saudi Arabia said it firmly rejected Ben Gbir’s “radical and provocative statements” and “actions that continue to provoke Muslim feelings around the world.” Riyadh also stressed the need to “respect the historical and legal status of Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina, has previously voiced opposition to Israeli actions against Al-Aqsa and the rising death toll in Gaza, which passed 40,000 on August 15.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is due to meet Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Tuesday to discuss the conflict, now in its 11th month.
In a separate statement on Tuesday, the UAE Foreign Ministry called on Israel to respect the “historic and legal status” of Jerusalem. It called on Israel to “fully protect” Al-Aqsa Mosque and to “end the serious and provocative violations” taking place there.
Abu Dhabi also called on Tel Aviv to respect Jordan’s authority over holy sites in Jerusalem, and the UAE said it supported Amman’s efforts to ensure the safety of the sites.
The mosques are a site of historical importance to the Jewish people and are believed to have been the site of two Jewish temples. The current complex, including the Dome of the Rock, was built by Muslim rulers in the 7th and 8th centuries. With deep religious significance for both the Jewish and Muslim communities, the mosques have often been a flashpoint, especially in times of conflict.
The site is currently managed by the Jordanian Waqf under the status quo ante of 1967. The Waqf controls the day-to-day activities in the area, and only allows Muslim worship. The Israeli police control access to the site, allowing non-Muslim tourists but barring worshippers of other religions.
Qatar’s foreign ministry also said in a statement that Ben Gbir’s comments were “provocative” to the feelings of Muslims around the world.
The Gulf Cooperation Council, which represents Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, also condemned Ben Gbir’s comments. GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al Budaiwi dismissed the comments as “outlandish” and “absurd,” saying they continued to “exacerbate the situation” and further destabilize the region.
Why is this important?
The Saudi and UAE reactions come amid growing dissatisfaction in both countries with the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The UAE normalized ties with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, which also included Bahrain. The agreements allowed air and trade ties between the two countries, allowing tourists with Israeli passports to visit the UAE and boosting trade flows between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed said in a September 2023 interview that both Israel and Saudi Arabia are “inching closer” to normalization. The Saudis are seeking normalization with Israel in exchange for a defense agreement with the United States and the resumption of their civilian nuclear program, but they are demanding that Israel commit to a credible path for a Palestinian state in order to move forward with normalization talks.
Ben Gville’s past
Israel’s far-right national security minister is calling for Jewish worship at Haram al-Sharif (Temple Mount), despite objections from his own government about the security risks posed by disrupting the status quo agreement.
Gulf states’ concerns stem from Ben Gvir’s previous attempts to revive the ancient Jewish tradition of offering Passover sacrifices in the mosque were blocked amid widespread condemnation.
Ben Gvir, who has a history of anti-Islamic provocations, called for Palestinians in the West Bank to be banned or severely restricted from entering Haram Sharif during Ramadan this year.
“Under no circumstances should Palestinian Authority residents be allowed to enter Israeli territory,” Ben Gvir said, citing widespread support in the West Bank for the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
But Yishai Fleischer, a former spokesman for Ben Gvir who now represents the Jewish community in Hebron, told Al-Monitor that Jews’ right to pray on the Temple Mount must be respected.
He also called on Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries to recognize Israel as a trading partner and to focus on economic and trade relations that lead to peace.
He said it was “absurd” to deny Jews the right to pray on the Temple Mount.