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Reflecto News | Breaking News | Israel-Palestine
HEBRON, West Bank — Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich ignited a storm of international criticism on Tuesday after video emerged showing him dancing with a group of Jewish worshippers — identified by local sources as extremist settlers — inside the Ibrahimi Mosque (Tomb of the Patriarchs) in Hebron, in celebration of the Jewish holiday Lag BaOmer .
The footage, captured by Israeli news outlets and widely circulated on social media, shows Smotrich and the group celebrating at the site, which is revered by both Jews and Muslims. The Ibrahimi Mosque is the traditional burial site of Abraham, a patriarch of both religions. In the 1990s, following the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre by a Jewish extremist, the site was divided into a mosque and a synagogue .
The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the act as a “grave violation of Islamic sanctities” and a “provocative act of religious incitement.” Muslim-majority nations, including Jordan (which serves as the custodian of Jerusalem’s holy sites), Egypt, and Turkey, also expressed outrage. The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) called the act “unhelpful” and “inflammatory,” warning it could ignite further violence in the region .
The Biden administration (prior to the change of administration) had previously sanctioned Israeli settlers for violence . However, the Trump White House offered no condemnation, and a National Security Council spokesman said the U.S. “respects the right of all faiths to worship at their holy sites.” The duality of the reaction underscores the shift in American policy: the Biden administration had sanctioned Smotrich and Ben-Gvir; the Trump administration has not .
Smotrich, who lives in the illegal settlement of Kedumim in the northern West Bank, is a longtime supporter of settler expansion. As Finance Minister, he wields immense influence over settlement budgets. Critics accuse him of using his position to make de facto annexation irreversible. This is not the first time Smotrich has sparked outrage for similar acts. In 2023, he claimed the “village of Huwara needs to be wiped out” by the state of Israel following a terror attack, a statement that was condemned by the U.S. and EU .
The event follows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent announcement of a major allocation of funds for settlement construction, including 2,200 new housing units in Ma’ale Adumim and other settlements, and the legalization of several settlement outposts that were previously illegal even under Israeli law . Combined with Smotrich’s provocative visit to the mosque, critics see a pattern: the Israeli government is rushing to cement its control over the West Bank and its holy sites, with little regard for international law or the potential for mass unrest.
Palestinian political factions have called for a “Day of Rage” on Friday in response to the event, raising fears of a resurgence of violence in the West Bank.
Key Takeaways for Reflecto News Readers
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| The Incident | Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich danced with settlers inside a mosque (Ibrahimi Mosque) in Hebron. |
| The Timing | Lag BaOmer (Jewish holiday); occurred just days after new settlement plans were announced. |
| International Reaction | Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, PA condemned; U.S. notably silent (compared to Biden stance). |
| Broader Context | Extremist settlers have carried out dozens of attacks in the West Bank since the Gaza war began. |
| Smotrich’s History | Prior call to “wipe out” Huwara; controls settlement budgets as Finance Minister. |
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