Responding to the international reaction to the ascent of Knesset member Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the Temple Mount on Tuesday, Likud MK Danny Danon asserted that Ben-Gvir had the right to visit the holy site.
“I think it’s legitimate. Everyone has a right to go to the Temple Mount, whether he is a Muslim or a Christian - or a Jew,” Danon told Israel National News. “The fact that we allowed this visit shows that this government is not afraid of the Hamas terrorist organization. We believe in our sovereignty in Jerusalem and we will ensure that every Jew who wants to come and practice his religion in Jerusalem on the Temple Mount, will be able to do so.”
Danon stressed that he is not concerned that such a policy may come at the expense of relations with Arab states, or that it may risk the future expansion of the Abraham Accords.
“I’m in touch with many of my colleagues in other regional capitals. They support the Palestinians’ position on this issue but they know that we believe in freedom of religion. When you talk about freedom of religion, coexistence, and tolerance, it focuses the question on the right of people to practise their religion,” he noted.
Asked if he was disappointed not to have been appointed a minister in the new government, Danon replied: “I chose not to become a minister in this government because the position I was offered did not strike me as substantial enough in terms of the responsibilities and authority I would have been granted, and I believe in implementing change.”
The position he was offered was Intelligence Minister, he added.
“It sounds very nice but when you look at what the position actually entails, you quickly realize that the Minister has very little authority to actually do anything. Basically, the role consists of providing intelligence reports to the other government ministers. In the past, I have served as Deputy Defense Minister, Science Minister, and I also served as Israel's ambassador to the UN for five years. I think I can put my capabilities and my experience to good use here in the Knesset as a regular MK, and that I can be very effective here.”
Danon has a long list of goals for this Knesset term.
“Mainly, it's about fulfilling the promises we made to the public,” he stressed, “including applying sovereignty in the Jordan Valley, the issue of personal security for Israelis within Israel, addressing the rising cost of living – we have a long list of challenges we intend to face.”