Arab-Israeli lawmaker visits Al-Aqsa despite Netanyahu's ban

An Arab-Israeli lawmaker entered East Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque compound Wednesday, defying a ban on visits by parliament members to the site which has been at the center of a deadly month-long violence.

Basel Ghattas, a Christian lawmaker with the Arab-Jewish Joint List faction, said on his Facebook page that the visit aimed at sending a message to the Israeli government.

"I am here to tell (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu that he has no sovereignty over Jerusalem or Al-Aqsa," the lawmaker said in a video message.

In the video, Ghattas is seen in and around the hilltop compound, which is the third holiest site to Muslims who revered it as the Noble Sanctuary, and also the most sacred site for Jews who know it as the Temple Mount.

Ghattas addressed Israel's hardline prime minister and said "You will not keep our people from fulfilling their rights to pray and visit at Al-Aqsa. This place will remain an Islamic holy site forever."

"You and the occupation are doomed to failure," he added.

On Oct. 8, Netanyahu banned all visits by Israeli lawmakers to the site, following inflammation of tensions that have seen 11 Israeli killed in Palestinian attacks and at least 69 Palestinians killed by Israeli security forces.

The ban mainly targeted far-right Jewish lawmakers whose increased visits to the site were a major trigger to the recent wave of violence. However, the ban sparked anger among Arab members of the parliament, who said the move was part of increasing restrictions that Israel has been imposing on Muslim access to the compound.

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan accused Ghattas of a "provocation" that might lead to more violence.

"Parliament members who infiltrate into the Temple Mount are worthy of contempt," he told a parliament panel, adding that the move "triggers incitement that will lead to the murder of innocents." Endit