During a Knesset Committee session addressing Jews visiting Har Habayis during Sukkos, Arab MKs stated “Jews have no business there”. Likud MK Moshe Feiglin called the Arab MK response “unprecedented chutzpah” while committee chairwoman, Likud MK Miri Regev stated every citizen, Jewish, Muslim or Christian has the same right to pray on Har Habayis.

MK Dr. Ahmed Tibi stated that a planned division of time between Muslims and Jews during the yomtov is unacceptable. He added that prohibiting Muslims from visiting Har Habayis during the Jewish time “is a declaration of war. The Jewish occupation is temporary. The Crusaders are gone, the British are gone and the Jews will be gone too!”

MK Talab Abu Arar added “Al Aqsa is not a mosque that is shut when the people are choked with teargas. Al Aqsa is every centimeter of the area. Jews have no business there. As those who are in charge, we shouldn’t be dragged by the Jewish extremists that chose a time when negotiations between Israel and the PA (Palestinian Authority) are taking place. You said the holiday of Sukkos is one of peace. Do you want to make the holiday of peace one of war? I am sure you don’t.”

Yehuda Glick, who heads the Har Habayis Heritage Foundation, stated “They defile the holy site and throw rocks at hundreds of Jews. We wish to exercise our basic right as faithful Jews. I don’t tell you what is holy or not holy for you. They closed Har Habayis on Rosh Hashanah afternoon because of the rock-throwing attacks. During the morning we were only permitted a two minute visit.”

At the end of the meeting Chairwoman Miri announced soccer on the holy site is prohibited. “Today, the Muslims desecrate their own holy site. Those throwing rocks [at the Kosel below] must be punished severely and the revolving door must stop. Police are called upon to prepare properly in light of the events on Rosh Hashanah. We cannot accept a situation in which stone-throwers compel closure of Har Habayis. We must permit those wishing to pray there to do so” Regev decided”.

It must be noted that according to the Poskei Hador one is absolutely forbidden to visit the Temple Mount, and there is an Issur Kares for one that goes there.

Four years ago on Sukkos, Israeli President Shimon Peres paid a visit to the Sukkah of Maran Hagon Rav Elyashiv ZATZAL, where Rav Elyashiv called on the President to prevent Jews from visiting Har HaBayis, stating it is an act that that is viewed as extremely provocative by the goyim. Maran stated everything possible must be done to avoid a religious war, and the provocateurs are playing with fire.

Maran is quoted as explaining to the president that Halacha forbids going onto Har HaBayis but today, it is more than this, it is an act that may lead to a religious war and bloodshed.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)