Originally published in The Jerusalem Post
By Rabbi Steven Burg
In a recent interview that has gained unfortunate traction online, Tucker Carlson hosted Greek-American Orthodox nun Mother Agapia Stephanopoulos, who made the inflammatory and baseless claim that Israel intends to “blow up” the al-Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount.
This dangerous accusation, presented without challenge and even encouraged through leading questions, demands a forceful response rooted in historical fact and Jewish values.
The interview featured a model of the ancient Jewish Temple, which served as a springboard for speculation about Israeli intentions regarding the Temple Mount.
This model incidentally sits on the rooftop of the Dan Family Aish World Center in the Old City of Jerusalem, an institution that I am the CEO of, and overlooks the Temple Mount. When Carlson asked how a Jewish temple could be rebuilt on a site currently occupied by Islamic holy places, Mother Agapia casually suggested Israel would simply “blow it up”, a statement as offensive as it is untrue.
This interview represents just the latest instance of Carlson providing a platform for antisemitic voices while maintaining plausible deniability. By posing leading questions and then stepping back as his guests make inflammatory statements, Carlson enables the spread of dangerous falsehoods while technically keeping his own hands clean. It’s a cynical strategy that deserves to be called out for what it is.
History directly contradicts these harmful claims. After Israel gained control of Jerusalem’s Old City in 1967 during the Six-Day War, Israeli authorities made a momentous decision that speaks volumes about our true values.
Despite having the military capacity to alter the Temple Mount, then-defense minister Moshe Dayan instead returned administrative control of the site to the Islamic Waqf. Not only did Israel not “blow up” the Dome of the Rock nor the al-Aqsa mosque, which sits just south of it, but it returned proprietorship of the sites to Muslims.
Israel’s decision was a unilateral choice and reflected the country’s commitment to religious freedom and respect for all faiths. Before 1967, when Jordan controlled the Old City, Jews were prohibited from praying at the Western Wall, our holiest accessible site. Jewish cemeteries were desecrated, and dozens of synagogues were destroyed. When Israel regained control, it chose a different path.
Jerusalem is now a city with religious freedom
Israel transformed Jerusalem from a divided city where religious freedom was severely restricted to one where Christians, Muslims, and Jews can all access their holy sites in peace.
Yes, observant Jews do pray daily for the eventual rebuilding of the Temple. This has been part of our liturgy for two millennia, even before Islam was a religion. But in Jewish tradition, this rebuilding is associated with the Messianic era, a time of universal peace, and it will be done peacefully, and God will figure out how to do that.
Both Judaism and Christianity believe that the Messianic era will be one of peace, where nations will beat their swords into plowshares. No responsible Jewish leader advocates for violent means to achieve this aspiration. The suggestion that Israel would “blow up” Islamic holy sites is not just factually wrong; it’s a malicious distortion of Jewish theology and Israeli policy.
Models of the ancient Temple, like the one shown in the interview, exist for educational purposes, to help people understand the historical and religious significance of the site. They represent historical memory and future hope, not current building plans.
The reckless promotion of such falsehoods has real-world consequences. Similar allegations about Jewish designs on the Temple Mount have incited violence, even very recently. When media figures amplify these dangerous claims, they become complicit in the potential bloodshed that may follow.
Tucker Carlson cannot hide behind the excuse that he merely asks questions while others provide inflammatory answers. By creating a platform for antisemitism, by framing questions to elicit maximally provocative responses, and by failing to challenge obvious falsehoods, he bears responsibility for the hatred he helps propagate.
Israel’s record speaks for itself. When Israel had the opportunity to destroy the Dome of the Rock in 1967, Israel chose preservation instead. Israel could have banned Muslim worship; instead, it chose to protect it.
Even when faced with terror attacks launched from the Temple Mount itself, Israel’s response has been measured, with a focus on security rather than retaliation.
Those genuinely interested in understanding this complex and sensitive issue should look to Israel’s actions over the past decades rather than inflammatory speculation from those with no authority to speak on Jewish or Israeli intentions.
The truth requires no exaggeration or fabrication; it simply demands to be told. I hereby invite you all to visit the AISH headquarters in Jerusalem’s Old City and see the realities on the ground for yourselves.
About the author
Rabbi Steven Burg is the CEO of Aish, a global Jewish institute, and the Chairman of Aish Ha’am, a new party in the World Zionist Congress. Rabbi Burg also serves on the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency. Prior to Aish, he was Eastern Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, where he oversaw the Museum of Tolerance in New York City and contributed to the center’s fight against antisemitism.