‘The Tail Wags the Dog’: What Rubio’s Rituals at Occupied Al-Aqsa Really Mean

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sparked outrage during his visit to occupied Jerusalem. He joined the ICC-wanted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the occupied Al-Buraq Wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque and took part in zionist rituals. He also inaugurated a 600-meter settlement tunnel beneath the Old City that ends near the foundations of the Buraq Wall.

A Clear Political Message

Netanyahu praised Rubio’s visit. He called it proof of the “unbreakable US-Israel alliance.” He described Rubio as an “extraordinary friend.” The optics were strong: a top American official in a yarmulke, praying at an occupied Muslim holy site.

For many analysts, this was not a spiritual act. It was a political message. The ceremony came just as Arab and Muslim leaders gathered in Doha to discuss Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

A Middle Finger to Doha

Political analyst Ahmed Al-Hila argued that Rubio’s visit was meant to strengthen Israel’s project of Judaizing Jerusalem. He said Washington once again showed it cannot act as a neutral broker. He urged Arab and Muslim states to rely on themselves to defend Al-Aqsa mosque.

“This indicates that Washington is an unreliable party because of its blatant bias toward rogue Israel and war criminal Netanyahu”, he wrote. “Arabs and Muslims meeting in Doha must rely on themselves to take deterrent measures against the occupation, in defense of Al-Aqsa, their first qibla, and in defense of their countries’ security and the stability of the region.”

Media scholar Liqaa Maki said the image of Rubio at the Wall was pure propaganda. According to him, the timing was meant to undermine the Doha summit.

“The image of Minister Rubio wearing the Jewish kippah in front of the Buraq Wall is a carefully staged propaganda scene. Its purpose is to show everyone how far Washington can go in supporting Israel.”

Researcher Saeed Al-Haj noted that Rubio’s visit came days after a failed Israeli attack in Doha. He said Washington sent a message of “unlimited support” to Israel, even after it bombed Qatar.

Israeli affairs expert Muhannad Mustafa linked the tunnel’s opening to Israel’s broader colonial project. He said the tunnel is part of an attempt to control and Judaize the Al-Aqsa compound.

Israel’s Dominance Over Trump

Political analyst Sari Orabi called the tunnel tour a “direct message of support” for Israel. He stressed that Netanyahu cares little about Israel’s global isolation. For him, US backing is all that matters.

Kuwaiti professor Abdullah Al-Shayji said the visit showed the dominance of Zionist influence on US policy. He called it the “mandatory ritual” for every American official who visits Israel.

“The picture sums up the dominance of the Zionists over US decision-making, applying the famous American proverb that captures the painful reality of the special and exceptional relationship between the American and Zionist sides:

‘Sometimes the small controls the big – not the other way around.’

The tail wags the dog…”