Newsletters
Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said he supports the construction of a Jewish temple on the site of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and claimed he is willing to personally finance it.
Speaking near the Western Wall — known to Muslims as the Al-Buraq Wall — in the Old City of East Jerusalem, Smotrich addressed far-right activists participating in an annual nationalist flag march. The march commemorates Israel’s 1967 occupation of East Jerusalem.
At the end of his speech, which included remarks about land expansion in Gaza, Smotrich pointed toward Al-Aqsa Mosque and stated he “wants a temple built” there. “I’ll cover the cost,” he added.
In Israel’s far-right religious Zionist community, calls to build a "Third Temple" on the site of Al-Aqsa — one of Islam’s holiest places — are recurring. Such statements have long sparked outrage among Palestinians and the wider Muslim world.
Israeli authorities continue to carry out archaeological excavations beneath the Al-Aqsa compound, claiming to seek ancient Jewish temple remnants. Palestinians and many international observers view these efforts as undermining the mosque’s integrity and violating long-standing agreements over its status.
Earlier this week, far-right Israeli groups conducted their annual “Flag March,” held in accordance with the Hebrew calendar to mark the 1967 occupation. Thousands of marchers passed through Palestinian areas in East Jerusalem's Old City.
Chanting slogans such as “Death to Arabs” and “Burn your village,” some participants attacked Palestinians and members of the press. Israeli police sealed off entire neighborhoods, barring Palestinian residents from the area during the event.
Key figures in Israel’s current government, including Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, took part in the march alongside numerous other politicians and supporters.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it — a move not recognized by the international community. Under international law, East Jerusalem remains considered occupied territory.
Despite this, Israel declared Jerusalem its “complete and united capital” in 1980. The declaration was rejected by most countries, which continue to recognize East Jerusalem as part of the occupied Palestinian territories.
Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the future capital of a Palestinian state. They accuse Israel of attempting to change the city’s demographic structure by expanding Jewish settlements and enforcing policies that displace Palestinian residents.
TWEET: Israeli far-right Finance Minister Smotrich says he wants a Jewish temple built on the Al-Aqsa Mosque site in East Jerusalem—and is ready to fund it himself
1 min read
