The US demands that Netanyahu maintain the ‘status quo’ of the Esplanade of Mosques

USA demanded on Tuesday the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahuthat maintains the ‘status quo’ of the Esplanade of the Mosques from Jerusalemafter the controversial visit of the head of National Security, the far-right Itamar Ben Gvirto this holy place for Jews and Muslims.

”The United States strongly advocates the preservation of the ‘status quo’ of the holy sites in Jerusalem. Any unilateral action that endangers the ‘status quo’ is unacceptable”, a spokesperson for the White House Security Council told EFE.

LOOK HERE: Israeli ultranationalist minister Itamar Ben Gvir visits the Esplanade of Mosques despite Hamas threats

The aforementioned official recalled that Netanyahu has promised to preserve the ‘status quo’ of the sacred sites, for which he exhorted him “to fulfill that commitment”.

In a subsequent press conference, the White House spokeswoman, Karine Jean-Pierre, stressed that the Joe Biden government will continue to “being very firm and very clear” in defense of the ‘status quo’ of the Esplanade of the Mosques.

While the spokesman for the US State Department, Ned Price, recalled that in the past visits by high authorities to the place “they have only exacerbated the tension”.

”We are very concerned about any unilateral action that could exacerbate those tensions.”, remarked the spokesman, who assured that the United States has transferred “repeatedly” both Israel and Jordan, the country that guards the place, the importance of not altering the situation.

According to the ‘status quo’ in force since 1967 – when Israel occupied the eastern part of Jerusalem where the esplanade is located – the site is reserved exclusively for the worship of Muslims, while Jews can only enter as visitors, since Jewish laws prohibit his faithful to pray in the most sacred place for their religion, something reserved only for some rabbis.

Ben Gvir’s visit, who toured the compound and never stopped to pray, was condemned by Palestinian factions in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip as well as by several Arab and Islamic countries.

MORE INFORMATION: Palestinians on the visit of the Israeli minister to the Esplanade of the Mosques: It is a “red line” that will have “serious consequences”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the controversial visit, saying it does not represent a change in the status quo of the site, sacred to Jews and Muslims.

The visit to the Esplanade of the Mosques in September 2000 by the then leader of Likud, Ariel Sharon, was the trigger for the Second Intifada, and the massive entry of Jews -and police charges against Palestinians- into the compound was one of the causes that ignited the violence in May 2021, which led to a serious military escalation with Gaza and clashes between Arabs and Jews in several mixed cities in Israel.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.