Ramallah/Gaza, Jan 3 (IANS) Palestinian officials and factions have issued warnings against the potential visit of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, also known as the Temple Mount, in East Jerusalem.Israeli media reported on Sunday that Ben Gvir informed the police that he intends to enter the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque during the current week, the first for an Israeli Minister in nearly five years, reports Xinhua news agency.Hussein Al-Sheikh, Secretary General of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said in a statement that "Ben-Gvir's threat to storm Al-Aqsa as security minister is the pinnacle of blatant and shameless defiance".In Gaza, the Islamic Resistance Movement said in a press statement that the escalation against Al-Aqsa Mosque represents a detonator, warning the Israeli government would bear the consequences.Meanwhile, the Islamic Jihad Movement in Gaza said in a statement that Ben Gvir's entry into Al-Aqsa Mosque would "open the door to an open uprising".The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, is regarded by Muslims as their third-holiest site and Jews as their most sacred.
--IANS ksk/
(Disclaimer: This post has been auto published from IANS news agency without any modification to the text and has not been reviewed by editor)
