France pans Knesset vote against Palestinian state, Ben Gvir’s visit to Temple Mount

France pans the Knesset vote yesterday against a Palestinian state, saying that “only the two-state solution can bring a just and lasting peace to both Israelis and Palestinians and guarantee stability in the region.”

The Quai d’Orsay also condemns National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s visit to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem this morning, calling it a “violation of the status quo on the mosque esplanade.”

“These irresponsible actions risk further destabilizing the region,” says France.

“France recalls the need to preserve the historic status quo on the Holy Places in Jerusalem and underlines the importance of Jordan’s specific role in this regard,” says the statement.

The status quo in Jerusalem deals with nine shared religious sites in Jerusalem, including the Western Wall, but does not cover the Temple Mount itself. However, informal arrangements between Israel and the Jordanian Waqf have dictated how the site is managed since Israel took control in 1967.

The vague status quo governing the compound allows Muslims to pray and enter with few restrictions, while non-Muslims, including Jews, can visit only during limited time slots via a single gate, with visibly religious Jews only allowed to walk on a predetermined route, closely accompanied by police. While Jews are not officially allowed to pray, police have increasingly tolerated limited prayer.