Germany calls on Israel to refrain from ‘further provocations’ after Ben-Gvir’s Al Aqsa visit

Record ID: 1705168

  • Title: Germany calls on Israel to refrain from ‘further provocations’ after Ben-Gvir’s Al Aqsa visit
  • Date: 4th January 2023
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (JANUARY 4, 2023) (REUTERS) ROUTINE GERMAN GOVERNMENT NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN CHRISTOFER BURGER LOOKING ON VARIOUS OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, CHRISTOFER BURGER, SAYING: “The German government rejects one-sided steps which endanger the status quo of Mount Temple and we have repeatedly made this clear. Yesterday’s visit is a provocation and that is why we very clearly reject this move. We expect the new Israeli government to commit to a continuation of the tried and tested practice around the holy sites in Jerusalem and to put a stop to further deliberate provocations." VARIOUS OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, CHRISTOFER BURGER, SAYING: “That is why we see it as the responsibility of the new Israeli government and especially of Prime Minister Netanyahu to refrain from such provocations, especially of course from members of the cabinet. As you rightly said, the prime minister after the visit by his minister to Temple Mount reiterated that the status quo of the holy sites in Jerusalem would not be questioned under his government. The German government will judge the Israeli government’s actions based on these words.”
  • Embargoed: 18th January 2023 15:17
  • Keywords: German government reaction Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir Temple Mount provocation
  • Location: BERLIN, GERMANY / JERUSALEM
  • City: BERLIN, GERMANY / JERUSALEM
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Europe,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001037504012023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Germany rejects unilateral steps that endanger the status quo on the Al Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem, said a foreign ministry spokesperson on Wednesday (January 4), calling a visit there by Israel's new far-right national security minister a provocation.
    "We expect the new Israeli government to commit to a continuation of the tried and tested practice around the holy sites in Jerusalem and to put a stop to further deliberate provocations," said the spokesperson at a regular government news conference.
    The Israeli minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, briefly visited Al Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem on Tuesday, a site also revered by Jews, angering the Palestinians and drawing a slew of condemnations.
    (Production: Oliver Ellrodt, Michele Sani)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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