According to Abed el-Nasr Nasr, the Jordanian advisor on Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, Israeli officials have asked Jordan permission for Jewish tefilos on Hay Habayis. In Israel’s eyes, while Jerusalem claims sovereignty on Har Habayis, governments since 1967 have viewed the Jordanian Waqf Authority as the authority setting the day-to-day regulations for Har Habayis.
Speaking to the Jordanian el-Raid newspaper, Nasr reported the Jordanians denied the Israeli request. “Jordan will not permit the entry of extremist Jews to the area of the holy el-Aqsa Mosque or the Har Habayis area of 144 dunams, which is all exclusively under Muslim control. The request is part of the Israeli plan to divide el-Aqsa and to Judaize occupied Jerusalem”.
In a related matter, a Jordanian delegation is expected to arrive in Israel in the coming days to address “Israeli violations of the status quo pertaining to Har Habayis”.
The Jordanian media is warning against activities by Jewish organizations, extremists seeking to take over Har Habayis. They warn these efforts represent “playing with fire”.
MK (Bayit Yehudi) Zevulun Kalfa responds, explaining the report does not appear based in fact for Har Habayis organizations would never turn to Jordan for permission because doing so would lend legitimacy to Amman’s claims of ownership of the holy site. He adds that the agreement signed between Israel and Jordan permit access to ‘significant historical and holy sites,’ and this compels Jordan to accept Jewish tefilos on Har Habayis without any special request.”
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
That’s sick. We should be giving them permission, not the other way around.
Eventhough we pasken that it is assur, does it bother people that Jordanian and Muslim Wakf seem to have the final say on Har HaBayis?!? Is it better to limit improper presence of Jews on Har HaBayis for the wrong reason (perhaps issue of lo sechanem)? Or, is it better to have Jews allowing other Jews the opportunity to do an aveirah of bringing tumah to Har HaBayis? (Is it much different than allowing a Jew to buy both milk and meat and then watch him make a cheeseburger?)
Micah – you are making a few Halachic miscalculations.
If it is an Issur Karet (as you assume “we pasken” like) then it is much worse than a cheese burger!
And if it is Muttar, like we (many other Poskim) pasken like, then it is not a problem.