Tensions Building At The Temple Mount: 'Could Cause Violent Events And Trigger Religious War'

Temple Mount: PM continues Jewish visits after Muslim-police clashes

LAHAV HARKOV

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett ordered the police to continue allowing Jews to ascend the Temple Mount on Sunday, the fast day of Tisha Be'av, even as Muslims clashed with police at the holy site.

Bennett met with Public Security Minister Omer Bar Lev and Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai after police entered the area to stop rocks being thrown from al-Aqsa Mosque.

"The prime minister instructed to allow organized and safe ascendance of Jews to the Mount, while keeping order at the site," the Prime Minister's Office said.

No incidents were reported during the Jewish visits, which lasted until Sunday afternoon.

Bennett thanked the police for handling the matter responsibly and protecting Jews’ freedom of worship.

The prime minister also emphasized that “full freedom of worship on the Temple Mount will be maintained for Muslims, as well, who are marking the Day of Arafa and Eid al-Adha this week.

Nearly 1,700 Jews visited the Temple Mount during the permitted hours, after the violent demonstrators were cleared from the area.

Among them was rebel Yamina MK Amichai Chikli, who sang Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem. Another Yamina MK, Yom Tov Kalfon, visited the holy site as well.

Images circulating on social media showed a small group of Israeli Jews praying at the site, which is against the rules set by the Jordanian Islamic Trust, known as the Wakf, and generally enforced by Israeli police.

The Temple Mount is Judaism’s holiest site, where the two temples stood. Tisha Be’av marks the anniversary of their destruction in 586 BCE and 70 CE.

Jordan sent an official letter of protest against Israeli “violations” on the Temple Mount, including “storming of the holy compound by extremist settlers under Israeli police protection,” Jordanian news agency Petra reported.

Palestinian and other Arab media reports often characterize any Jews visiting the Temple Mount as settlers, and their actions as “storming,” even when labeling videos of people walking in an orderly fashion.

Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesman Daifallah al-Fayz said: "The Israeli actions against the mosque are rejected and condemned, and represent a violation of the historical and legal status quo, international law, and Israel's obligations as an occupying power in East Jerusalem.”

Al-Fayez said the entire Temple Mount compound “is a place of worship purely for Muslims.”

The Islamist Ra'am (United Arab List) Party said  "Muslims have an exclusive right to the al-Aqsa Mosque and no one else has any right over it."

Ra'am warned worshippers in a statement on Sunday against a "large number of settlers who have been storming and violating the sanctity of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque since the morning hours."

"This could cause violent events and ignite the situation in Jerusalem and the entire region in way that could lead to a devastating religious war, especially when officials and MKs are allowed to storm al-Aqsa, hold prayers, hold religious ceremonies and read the national anthem 'Hatikva,’” the party stated.

Israel has no religious, historical or legal right to any inch of Jerusalem and the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, or Temple Mount, Mahmoud Habbash, religious affairs adviser to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said on Sunday.

Habbash warned of the consequences of Israel’s “daily violations against the al-Aqsa Mosque.” He said Israel’s actions could ignite a religious war.

The PA presidency also warned of the “dangerous Israeli escalation” in Jerusalem and claimed that settlers had “stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the Israeli security forces.”

Hamas warned on Friday that Israel was "playing with fire" by allowing Jews to visit the Temple Mount and march in the Old City, as it does most years.

The terrorist group called on Gazans to "keep their fingers on the trigger" to defend Jerusalem.