Jerusalem police report that on Wednesday, the first day of Chol Hamoed Pesach in Eretz Yisrael, there were a total of 1,841 visitors to Har Habayis including 1,481 tourists.
Police add three Jewish visitors were arrested for disturbing the peace. In one case, a person recited Shema and tried to prostrate himself on the holy site, prompting police to remove him from the area. Police were present in large numbers to prevent disturbances.
Gedolei Yisrael over the generations and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel prohibit visiting Har Habayis.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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There will always be a small number of fanatics who are willing to put the tzibur and the security forces at risk to indulge in their personal obsessions about davening on har habayis (which as YWN always highlight is the subject of an isur kores by virtually all gadolei yisroel). Fortunately, this year the security forces were able to pro-actively anticipate some plans to bring a korban pesach and engage in other provocative acts that were almost 100 percent certain to cause bloodshed. Its unfortunate we are not at a time when we can move about the har habayis freely but until that time, the actions of a few must be constrained. The good news is that nearly 2000 were able to visit peacefully and in full compliance with the rules.