Jews Barred From Temple Mount While Mourning Destruction Of Temples

Arutz Sheva ^ | Av 9, 5764 / July 27, 2004 | Arutz Sheva

[ChicagoHebrew]

The Temple Mount - Judaism's holiest site - was closed to Jews today in response to Muslim threats of violence if Jews were allowed to visit.

The Temple Mount - Judaism's holiest site - was closed to Jews today in response to Muslim threats of violence if Jews were allowed to visit. The decision was made by Jerusalem Police Chief Ilan Franco, citing the threat of Arab violence toward Jews who would enter the holy site.

The closure is particularly painful for many Jews, as today is the Fast of Tisha B'Av - the 9th of the Jewish month of Av - marking the destruction of both the first and second Temples. Several other Jewish tragedies also took place on this date in history.

The decision to close the holy site to Jewish visitors came as a surprise to hundreds of people from across the country who had planned on ascending the Mount today.

The Supreme Court, hearing a petition by the Temple Mount Faithful yesterday, heard testimony from Franco himself to the effect that there appeared to be no necessity to close the Mount "unless an unusual security event occurs." Gershon Solomon, head of the Temple Mount Faithful organization, later summed up, "Based on this, the Court ruled that this would be the policy. Unfortunately, however, I have to say that Franco lied, in that he knew he was not planning to open the Mount; we see that there was no 'unusual security event,' and yet he still did not allow us to enter. This has been the policy ever since I remember on Tisha B'Av, and on many other holidays as well - not to allow the Temple Mount Faithful to enter the holy site, and consequently other Jews as well."

Solomon said that Franco's decision has "devastating political and security ramifications, including increased Islamic violence and destruction surrounding Temple Mount issues, as once again, threats of Islamic violence have achieved their desired result."

Members of the Temple Mount Faithful marched instead around the outside of the Temple Mount to signal their desire to ascend the Mount. The group had hoped for a change in police attitudes following Franco's assumption of the Commissionership, but the group says he seems to have adopted the approach of his predecessors in banning Jews from the Temple Mount whenever Muslims threaten violence against them.

Solomon said that the recent comments by Minister of Public Security Tzachi HaNegbi (Likud) did not seem to have an effect on the decision today, "as this has been the policy all along. But there is no question that he caused damage to the People of Israel in giving ammunition to our enemies and in 'letting the blood' of Jews who ascent to the Mount." Minister HaNegbi said three nights ago that he is certain that Jews are planning to carry out an attack on the Temple Mount. His disclaimer that he has no concrete evidence to support his claim was ignored by the Arab League and the Muslim Waqf, which turned to international bodies to "prevent Jewish extremists from endangering the Moslem holy sites on the Temple Mount."

Temple Mount supporters held a spontaneous protest demonstration in front of Minister HaNegbi's home in Mevaseret Tzion today. Among the protesters were Jews who had intended to visit the holy site this morning.

Health Minister Danny Naveh (Likud) said this morning that decisions made under the threat of Arab violence are "intolerable." He expressed the desire that decisions regarding Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount should be transferred from the authority of the police to a ministerial level. "The Temple Mount is the only place in the world where Jews cannot pray," Naveh said, "even though it is the holiest site to Judaism. Although there are differences of opinion amongst today's rabbis whether Jews should ascend the Mount, there are those who wish to, and it is their right. We cannot live under the [Arab] threat that if we let Jews pray there, [violence] will occur. Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount is a Jewish right that must be realized."

[ChicagoHebrew]

Disgraceful.

[Mr. Mojo]

Disgraceful is right. Hopefully the infestation of the Holy Land will end one day. ......soon.

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

"...in response to Muslim threats of violence..."

Same excrement, different day.

I wonder what it's like to go through life with the emotional maturity of a spoiled three year old.

[ex 98C MI Dude]

If the Israelis waited until there was no threat of violence, it would be a cold day in h*** before anything got done, to include going to market.

This police chief is a fool.

[job]

If the temple mount is built, will the mosque have to come down? I have been confused as it seems like I have heard reports that there have been plans to build a temple near the Al-Aqsa compound, co-existing with the mosque, and then others that it would have to be torn down. I think biblically, it would have to be torn down, as a place of worship to someone other than Jehovah.

If that were the case, you would be assured of torrential havoc upon Israel, probably preceding an invasion.


Any thoughts?

[P-Marlowe]

The Muslims threaten violence against Jews, so the Jews get banned? Shouldn't the Muslims be banned from the Temple Mount until the threats cease? Shouldn't they just close the whole site?

[StoneColdGOP]

WTF??

Just shoot the Muslims if they get to be troublesome!

[sheik yerbouty]

Mr. Sharon, tear down that dome!

[frgoff]

Isn't it interesting that the Muslims are threatening violence so the Jews are the ones shut out. How about closing the temple mount to the people making the threats?

[Ciexyz]

An outrage. Apparently Muslims call the shots over there, even if the Jews hold the reigns of government.

[newfreep]

Mr. Sharon, tear down that dome!

LOL!!!! That's a keeper....and so true. Just shoot the mooslims that cause problems and send the message the civilized world will not tolerate savages.

[sheik yerbouty]

It is a long overdue message.

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

I am very hostile to the Islamic world right now so I don't think I can make an unemotional, reasoned comment on what I think should happen.

[Lazamataz]

The Temple Mount was closed to Jews today in response to Muslim threats of violence if Jews were allowed to visit.

Let's see if we can apply the same logic to similar situations here in the United States:

• I threaten to kill someone I don't like. They are arrested because of my threat.
• I tell the stewardess that I have a bomb in my carry on luggage. She is immediately apprehended and the airline is sued.
• A woman who is sexily-dressed is raped. She is arrested for enticing the rape.

I mean, makes as much sense as this.

[pctech]

I've heard other folks say that the temple may not have actually stood where the Dome is now but actually stood some distance away. I don't see how this could be because I saw a special on the Dome and it showed where the Holy of Holies stood in relation to the Dome. I can see no way of building the temple where it is supposed to stand until the Dome of the Rock is destroyed.

[Bobby777]

unbelievable ... [/stops before going on two-paragraph rant]

[Bobby777]

Nobody knows for certain yet. The Apostle John is told to measure the future Temple, indicating it is real, but is told not to measure the Outer Court, and that Jerusalem is given to the Gentiles (yes, I'm a Gentile but not one of these guys) to tread under foot for 1,260 days (42 months) ...

http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=Revelation+11&KJV_version=yes&language=english&x=17&y=6

[maestro]

Genesis 22:2

Bottom Line!

[montag813]

in response to Muslim threats of violence if Jews were allowed to visit.

How is that different from any other day?

This is just like the Phillipines folding under pressure...it will only invite more such threats, and further capitulation. A day of disgrace for the nation of Israel, on their most mournful day.