A rule put in place by the previous administration allowing any politician to meet with Palestinian terrorists who were imprisoned has been repealed, according to Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who announced on Sunday.
Ben-Gvir claimed that he decided after “concluding that these trips served to instigate and to promote terrorist operations.”
The previous arrangement, which allowed only one representative from each political party to speak with detained terrorists under “proper supervision,” would now be reinstated.
It’s time to stop rewarding terrorists, said Ben-Gvir.
“I believe encounters between Knesset lawmakers and security prisoners might offer those prisoners a boost.”
The choice was made after last week Ben-Gvir visited the maximum security Nafha Prison, close to Mitzpe Ramon in the Negev.
During his visit, he vowed that Palestinian terrorists would not profit from facility improvements, including those brought on by a High Court decision requiring that each prisoner have at least four square meters (43 square feet) of living space in their cells.
Ben-Gvir, who is in charge of the police and prison system, said: “I came to make sure that the murderers of Jews are not getting better conditions as a result of the construction…and I was delighted to discover that the Israel Prison Service does not intend to improve [them].
Ben-judgment Gvir’s was referred to by Hamas as “a hazardous escalation” and “unprecedented criminal actions toward [Palestinian militants].”
By disobeying Hamas and the Palestinian Authority and mounting the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City on Tuesday, Ben-Gvir sparked outrage worldwide.
During his visit, Ben-Gvir stated that the Temple Mount was the most critical location for the Israeli people.
He continued, “We protect the freedom of movement for Muslims and Christians, but Jews also visit the site, and those who pose threats must be dealt with with an iron fist.”
As a result, the U.N. Washington “firmly supports the preservation of the historical status quo concerning the holy sites in Jerusalem, especially on the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount,” using both the Islamic and Jewish/Christian names for the site.
During the emergency Security Council meeting, Robert Wood, a diplomat representing the U.S., said: “We are concerned by any unilateral acts that exacerbate tensions or undermine the viability of a two-state solution.”
In keeping with this, Wood said, “we oppose any unilateral changes that stray from the historical status quo and are unacceptable.”
He added that he anticipates Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration will uphold its pledge to keep the holy site in its current state.
Israel’s ambassador to the UN expressed his “overjoy” at learning that the Security Council was convening an emergency session in response to an Israeli government minister’s “calm, orderly, uneventful” visit to the Temple Mount.
Gilad Erdan made fun of the council’s decision to accede to the Palestinians’ demand for a discussion on the subject, saying, “I figured that if this prestigious group is convening to discuss such a small thing, then clearly we won world peace overnight.”
Ben-Gvir entered the Mount alone, aside from the security detail required to keep him safe, at one of the few times of the week permitted for Jewish admission, according to Erdan, and he did not attempt to pray.
He launched into a detailed history lecture regarding the Temple Mount’s current situation before stating that Israel has no intention of changing it.
The Palestinian Authority is the only party altering the status quo. Why? Because the Palestinian Authority is demonstrating that Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount is intolerable and any Jewish presence by turning the location into a war.
Ben-Gvir, a lifelong supporter of Jews’ rights to freely visit and pray at their holiest site, committed to addressing the situation that prevents them from doing both while campaigning.
ביטלתי את הנוהל של עמר בר-לב ומיקי לוי שאפשר לכל ח"כ להיפגש עם מחבלים בכלא, לאחר שהגעתי למסקנה כי הביקורים הללו הביאו להסתה ולקידום פעולת טרור. pic.twitter.com/IYQJIidLJm
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) January 8, 2023
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