Temple Mount

No. 8: Itamar Ben-Gvir: Arming Israel and making headlines, for better or worse

Itamar Ben-Gvir’s role as both a governmental power broker and lightning rod for controversy ensures his influence - for better or worse - will continue to reverberate far beyond Israel’s borders.

Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Activists ascend the Temple Mount in honor of Charlie Kirk on September 17,2025.

WATCH: Dozens of religious activists ascend Temple Mount in honor of Charlie Kirk

JEWS PRAY for forgiveness during this month of Elul, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. After 2,000 years, God has finally answered the prayers of millions of Jews and allowed them to return to their homeland.

Why do American Jews pray facing Jerusalem? - opinion

 Rabbi Leo Dee (L) with his fiance Aliza Teplitsky.

Rabbi Leo Dee detained for putting on tefillin on Temple Mount on wedding day


'I will give the money, you will build the Temple,' Smotrich tells Jerusalem mayor

In response, Moshe Lion replied to Bezalel Smotrich: "You are the best finance minister Jerusalem has ever had."

  Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends a Plenum session of the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, also attended by Argentine President Javier Milei (not pictured), in Jerusalem, June 11, 2025.

Tucker Carlson is once again spreading lies about Israel via his guests - opinion

This time, the lies he is spreading is about the Temple Mount.

Tucker Carlson (R) interviews Mother Agapia Stephanopoulos (L), August 2025.

From Temple Mount, Ben-Gvir says 'entire Gaza Strip must be occupied'

After Ben-Gvir's visit, the Prime Minister's Office issued a statement saying that Israel's status quo on the Temple Mount "has not changed and will not change"

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir seen after a visit at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem Old City, during the Tisha B’Av, August 3, 2025.

The third Temple cannot be built until we are kind to one another - opinion

Striving for social justice in both Jewish communities and society as a whole should be an integral part of our endeavor to rebuild the Temple and our future in general. 

A computer-generated rendition of the Third Temple

Ancient seal discovered in Temple Mount soil may link to King Josiah's era

Based on the writing style, the sealing dates to the late First Temple period, approximately the late-7th to early-6th century BCE.

Archaeologist Mordechai Ehrlich holding the sealing.

Israeli-Jordanian agreement over Temple Mount is pathetic appeasement to terrorism - opinion

The network of Temple Mount activists includes advocates from across Israel and Jews from every circle of Israeli society.

THEN-US PRESIDENT Bill Clinton, prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and King Hussein attend the Israel-Jordan peace treaty signing ceremony at the Arava Crossing in 1994.

Stones and stories: The life of a veteran family of Jerusalem's Old City

Residing steps away from the Temple Mount for near 50 years, the Ilans are well acquainted with life in the Old City of Jerusalem.

 The Jewish Quarter, as seen from above the Old City.

MK Gilad Kariv claims Itamar Ben-Gvir provides backing to Temple Mount 'extremists'

In the letter, which was publicized on Monday, Kariv mentioned two recent incidents. The first was on May 13, when activists attempted to bring a live goat onto the Temple Mount as a sacrifice.

 MK Gilad Kariv attending a Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset, June 9, 2025.

Ben-Gvir bucks status-quo, announces prayer permitted on Temple Mount

In a speech given during his visit to the site, Ben-Gvir said he was "praying for victory in the Israel-Hamas War, the return of all hostages being held in Gaza."

 National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visits the Temple Mount in Jerusalem Old City, on Jerusalem Day, May 26, 2025

Ancient road connecting ancient Mikveh to Temple unveiled by archaeologists

Orenstein emphasized that excavations like that of the Pilgrimage Road put biblical stories into historical context.

 City of David 2,000 years ago.

Refurbishment work begins at Little Kotel in Muslim Quarter – report

PM Netanyahu approved the renovations and maintenance work after months of internal government discussions.

Pessah cleaning at Western Wall