Bibi or Ben-Gvir

When it comes to Jews and Muslims, there is no more combustible tinder box than the Temple Mount.

Israel ended up holding the whole of Jerusalem following the 6-War in 1967. However, the political leadership of the day wisely chose to leave control of the Temple Mount in the hands of the Jordanian religious authorities, the Wakf, understanding only too well that a change in the status quo would lead to a religious war.

“Al-Aqsa is in danger” is an Islamic political rallying call that is frequently used to oppose the presence of Jews and Israelis on the Temple Mount under the pretext that they are seeking to take it over and construct the Third Temple.

Indeed, Itamar Ben-Gvir told Army Radio on Monday that he intended building a synagogue there if he could.

Ben-Gvir is an irresponsible, childish but crafty politician, who acts like a bull in a china shop. His plans to finance guided tours of the Temple Mount and bring thousands of Jews to the site can only lead to further tension.

Nothing would be more likely to incense moderate Arab nations like Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia with whom Israel is seeking to build relations.

Likkud government minister, Yoav Kisch, has called Ben-Gvir’s behaviour irresponsible, populist, unnecessary and stupid”.

However, Bibi has a problem. As we all know, his primary interest is to remain in power. It determines everything he does from his handling of the war to negotiations to release the hostages being held by Hamas.

Ben-Gvir’s far-right, ultra-nationalist, Kahanist, and anti-Arab political Otzma Yehudit party has six seats in the present Knesset.

Without them, Bibi’s coalition government would collapse, but with them he risks inciting the entire Arab world. As if we don’t have enough problems!