UAE denounces Ben-Gvir's Al-Aqsa Mosque plans

The UAE strongly denounced the statement made by Israeli Minster Ben-Gvir, to establish a Jewish synagogue at Al-Aqsa Mosque on Monday.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) reiterated its firm position on the need to provide full protection to Al-Aqsa Mosque and avoid provocative violations.

The UAE also called for Israel to avoid infringing on the authority of the Jerusalem Endowments Administration and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs, a Jordanian-appointed organisation responsible for managing the compound in Jerusalem, and expressed "full solidarity and support for brotherly Jordan and all measures it takes to preserve the holy site," the Ministry said. 

Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said he would build a Jewish synagogue at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem. The Israeli government has had a longstanding ban on Jews praying at the holy site, a directive largely ignored by the minster and his supporters.

Since taking office in 2022, the minister has visited the Al-Aqsa site at least six times, prompting widespread condemnation by Arab and Western nations, as well as Orthodox Jews and some Israeli officials. 

الإمارات تدين بشدة تصريح وزير إسرائيلي بشأن إقامة كنيس يهودي في المسجد الأقصى المباركhttps://t.co/HeswUoEIpw

— MoFA وزارة الخارجية (@mofauae) August 26, 2024