US: Ben Gvir ‘sowing chaos, undermining Israel’s security’ with Temple Mount remarks
State Department ‘reaffirms commitment to preserving the historic status quo at Jerusalem’s holy sites,’ as far-right minister asserts Jewish right to prayer at flashpoint compound
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Tuesday accused National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir of “sowing chaos” and “undermining Israel’s security” in its harshest critique yet of the hardline cabinet member.
The statement from State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller came after Ben Gvir’s comments earlier this week expressing support for the establishment of a synagogue on the Temple Mount, with the Otzma Yehudit party leader responding enthusiastically in the affirmative when asked during an interview if he would put a Jewish house of worship at the flashpoint holy site if he could.
This initiative “would demonstrate blatant disregard for the historic status quo with respect to the holy sites in Jerusalem,” said Miller.
“The ongoing reckless statements and actions of this minister only sow chaos and exacerbate tensions at a moment when Israel must stand united against threats from Iran and its proxy terrorist groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah. They directly undermine Israel’s security,” he added.
The statement followed a biting critique that White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby issued earlier this month against Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich over the latter’s opposition to the hostage-release and ceasefire deal being negotiated by the Biden administration. Kirby accused Smotrich of endangering the lives of the hostages.
The Biden administration held a high-level meeting in June where the idea of sanctioning both Ben Gvir and Smotrich was raised but ultimately dismissed for the time being, two senior US officials have told The Times of Israel. The European’s Union foreign minister recently called for the bloc to also consider sanctioning the far-right ministers, though unanimity is required among its 27 member states to adopt such a measure, making it highly unlikely.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Office has made clear that the actions and statements of Minister Ben Gvir are inconsistent with the Government of Israel’s policy, and a number of responsible voices in the Israeli government have condemned them. It is critical that the Government of Israel continue to ensure its policy is adhered to,” Miller said.
“The United States reaffirms our commitment to the preservation of the historic status quo at Jerusalem’s holy sites and will continue to oppose unilateral steps that are counterproductive to achieving peace and stability and undermine Israel’s security,” the State Department spokesperson added.
During the Army Radio interview Monday, Ben Gvir also declared that Jewish worshipers have the same rights as Muslim worshipers on the Temple Mount, saying Israeli law does not discriminate between their religious rights.
“The policies on the Temple Mount allow prayer, period,” Ben Gvir said.
“It’s not like I do everything I want on Temple Mount,” he added. “If I did everything I wanted on Temple Mount, the Israeli flag would have long been flying there.” Asked if he would put a synagogue on the site if he could, he answered, “Yes, yes, yes, yes.”
In response to Ben Gvir’s comments, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an oft-repeated statement insisting that there was “no change to the official status quo on the Temple Mount,” but avoided mentioning his ultranationalist coalition partner by name.
Ben Gvir similarly asserted a Jewish right to prayer at the Temple Mount while touring the site last month on the solemn fast day of Tisha B’Av, which mourns the destruction of the Temples that once stood in Judaism’s holiest site. Some Jewish visitors to the compound that day were filmed praying and prostrating themselves, in violation of police instructions.
While Israeli law technically allows Jews to pray anywhere in the country, courts have long upheld police discretion to enforce a ban on Jewish prayer as part of a sensitive status quo agreement governing the site, which is considered the holiest site in Judaism and the third-holiest in Islam.
The State Department’s statement came a day after Saudi Arabia condemned Ben Gvir’s statements, with the kingdom issuing a statement that referred to the minister indirectly as “a minister in the Israeli occupation government.”
“The kingdom affirms its categorical rejection of these extremist and inflammatory statements, and its rejection of the ongoing provocations of the feelings of Muslims around the world,” the statement said, alongside calls to end “the humanitarian catastrophe” endured by Palestinians and to “hold Israeli officials accountable” for violations of international law.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
