A new wave of violence could lead to even more bloodshed if the Israeli far right, led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, tries to once again invade the Al-Aqsa mosque during the holy month of Ramadan. This was stated in an interview with Izvestiya by the Ambassador of the Arab state in Moscow, Abdel Hafiz Nofal.
“Yes, this is what I fear (increase in violence. – Ed.). If already now everything is hard and harsh, what will happen in the month of Ramadan? The month of Ramadan is a holy month for all Muslims. The Al-Aqsa Mosque during the entire Ramadan, especially on Fridays, gathers at least a quarter of the Palestinian population of the West Bank (1.3 million Muslim believers. – Ed.). What will be the situation in Jerusalem? If Ben-Gvir comes and wants to destroy the existing status quo around the Al-Aqsa mosque, desecrate the temple, then, I’m afraid, clashes and violence cannot be avoided,” the diplomat concluded.
The situation in the region escalated in late January after an Israeli raid on a refugee camp in Jenin, during which Israeli police killed, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 10 Palestinians. After that, the Palestinians carried out terrorist attacks in Jerusalem, killing seven people.
Itamar Ben-Gvir is a far-right radical politician who took over as Minister of National Security in the cabinet of Benjamin Netanyahu.
The holy month of Ramadan for the adherents of Islam this year comes on March 22 and will last until April 21.
Read more in an exclusive interview with Izvestia:
“The situation around Jerusalem is as tense as ever”
