Amid reports the ban on Members of Knesset wishing to visit Har Habayis will be lifted, the Knesset Ethics Committee has voted to keep the ban in place.

Following a meeting attended by Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein and senior police commanders, it was publicized Arab MKs would be able to visit Har Habayis during the third week of Ramadan if the situation remains quiet. Then Jewish MKs will also be able to resume visiting the holy site.

However, the Ethics Committee on Tuesday, 8 Sivan decided the ban would remain in place until such time police announce it has no objections to its removal. Jerusalem Police Chief Yoram Halevy attended the Ethics Committee session, explaining police have not changed the security assessment at this time and police remain opposed to Jewish MKs visiting at this time. Halevy did add that police are conserving permitting Arab MKs to visit the holy site for the end of Ramadan and the holiday of It el-Fitr.

Ethics Committee Chairman MK (Shas) Yitzchak Vaknin was angry at Edelstein for announcing the ban would be lifted. He stated “we will not rubber stamp” the decision, warning Har Habayis is a “powder keg that can explode at any moment”.

A day earlier, Deputy Minister of Finance (Shas) Yitzchak Cohen spoke out harshly against visiting Har Habayis, explaining doing so is contrary to halacha and the position of gedolei yisrael throughout the generations.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)