Muslim hostility keeps Jews from holiest site

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By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
July 27, 2004

Threat of Muslim violence resulted in Jewish worshippers being barred from entering Judaism?s holiest site Tuesday to mourn the destruction by gentile nations of both Temples to the God of Israel.

Jerusalem police have repeatedly declared the city?s Temple Mount off limits to non-Muslims when the Islamic authorities that occupy the complex threaten to instigate riots.

Tuesday?s decision to again take that route came on Israel?s national day of mourning ? Tisha B?Av ? and only one day after police and court officials said Jews would be allowed on the Mount to mark the fast.

A reevaluation of intelligence regarding Muslim intentions led Jerusalem police chief Ilan Franco Tuesday morning to suddenly alter his earlier assessment that Jews could safely visit the site.

But religious and political leaders were unsatisfied with the decision, and said the police and government were allowing the Muslims to assert dominance and sovereignty over Judaism?s holiest site.

?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,? Health Minister Danny Naveh told Israel Radio.

Gershon Solomon, leader of the Temple Mount Faithful group, said Franco?s decision was ?a total retreat from our sovereignty over the Temple Mount."

"It's another dishonor to the Jewish nation by the weak leadership that doesn't understand the significance of the hour,? Ha?aretz quoted him as saying.

Solomon said the decision would also lead to increased Muslim destruction of Temple Mount artifacts because the Islamic authorities once again found they could intimidate Israel with violence.

While Jews and Christians were barred from the site Tuesday, a group of Israeli Arab Knesset members entered and toured the compound without restraint.

Despite being the most important biblical site in the world, the Temple Mount is one of the only areas in the ?West? where Jews and Christians cannot freely pray.

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