(Jerusalem Post) Yaakov Katz - Before Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Temple Mount on Tuesday, Hamas threatened Israel and some condemned the move as a provocation. If the Temple Mount is under Israeli sovereignty, then there should be no issue with any Israeli, especially an elected official, visiting the site. On the other hand, there is a true fear of Arab violence, which Israel always wants to avoid. If anyone thinks that violence will erupt because Ben-Gvir visits the Temple Mount, then it is important to keep in mind that the Palestinian terrorist groups do not need an excuse to launch attacks against Israel. They can use the Ben-Gvir visit this week, and next week, they will find another reason. The bottom line is that these are just excuses. The questions we should be asking are different: Why is Israel under threat from a terrorist group for allowing Jews to pray at Judaism's holiest site? Why is it okay for everyone else to pray there and not for Jews? And why do these Palestinian groups get away with making such threats? The writer is editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Post.
2023-01-05 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive