‘Unduly provocative’: Why Israeli minister’s prayer at Al-Aqsa mosque has irked West

Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s visit to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque compound drew international criticism after he defied a ban on Jewish prayers at the site, prompting rebukes from the European Union, the US, France, and the United Nations. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent such “provocative actions” and focus on diplomatic efforts.