New police minister Ben Gvir seeking to visit Temple Mount this week – report

In a potentially incendiary move, Itamar Ben Gvir, the far-right police minister, has reportedly informed police that he intends to visit Jerusalem’s Temple Mount this week.

Ben Gvir, a longtime advocate of Jewish prayer at the flashpoint holy site, told police that he wishes to visit on Tuesday, the Jewish fast of the Tenth of Tevet, or Wednesday, the Kan public broadcaster reports.

The highest echelons of police will deliberate the request tomorrow, including the commissioner, Yaakov Shabtai, according to the report.

Kan notes that the very fact that news of the request has leaked could mean the visit will be pushed off in order to avert Palestinian unrest.

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