The Diplomat
The Foreign Ministry yesterday issued a strong condemnation of the recent visit by Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, to the Esplanade of the Mosques in Jerusalem.
This action, which José Manuel Albares’ department considers “an unacceptable violation of the historical status quo of the Holy Places in Jerusalem”, has generated a wave of international criticism because of its potential to inflame tensions at a site sacred to Jews and Muslims.
The foreign ministry’s statement underlines that Spain recognises Jordan’s “essential” role as custodian of the holy sites, while recalling that Israel must preserve the status quo by “taking all necessary measures”.
The agreement, established after the Six-Day War in 1967, allows Muslims free access to the Esplanade for prayer, while Jews can only visit at restricted times and without performing religious rituals.
The Spanish government, which stresses the need for Israel to act responsibly to avoid escalating violence, agrees in its condemnation with practically the entire international community, including the European Union and the United States, which urges all parties to act with moderation and to avoid unilateral actions that could further inflame tensions.
The visit of the far-right Ben Gvir, leader of the supremacist Otsma’a party, who has already provoked Muslim anger by entering the esplanade twice in 2023, has been perceived as a provocation that threatens the fragile peace in the region.
