It is abundantly clear that with only a few short days until Pesach, the international Islamic community is determined to make Jewish visits to Har Habayis a front page media item. In recent weeks and months there has been a growing sentiment based on PA (Palestinian Authority) propaganda that Israel plans to overrun al-Aqsa Mosque. All involved are keenly aware that this is not so and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu continues releasing statements of calm.

Israel has recently announced its approval for the plan to install security cameras on the holy site, which would be monitored by Israel, Jordan and the Waqf Authority, despite the fact the cameras would be used to indict Israel in the international community.

Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Monday, 10 Nissan, announced his country’s was backing out, citing a “lack of PA interest” in the joint project. Clearly the PA does not want to give Israel any additional official roles on Har Habayis, which UNESCO this week recognized as an Islamic site exclusively.

Jordan last month spoke of the installation of 55 cameras which the Waqf was going to use to “monitor Israeli violations against al-Aqsa”. Palestinians however have been against the plan from the beginning, vowing to smash them after they are installed. They are poignantly aware that permitting Israel to monitor events via live closed circuit feed is counterintuitive as it would facilitate documenting the lies spread by the PA.

Amid calls from the PA and Muslims to keep Israelis off Har Habayis on Pesach whatever it takes, Israel will be sharply stepping up the security presence on the holy site during yomtov. Yated Neeman this week released a column  calling on Israel to bar Jews, citing the proponents of visiting the holy site are not truly interested in the religious significance but rather they are advancing a political agenda.

It must be noted: According to the Poskei Hador one is absolutely forbidden to visit Har Habayis, and there is an Isur Karess for one that goes there.

A number of years ago on Sukkos, President Shimon Peres paid a visit to the Sukkah of Maran HaGaon 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.

This is and remains the view of poskei hador. This is also the view of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. Among the rabbonim who share this view are HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita, HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Halevy Wosner ZATZAL, HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein Shlita, Maran HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita, Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L, Maran HaGaon HaRav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv ZT”L and many others.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)