A policeman was injured lightly when Arabs pelted police with rocks on Har Habayis. Jews were visiting the holy site and the Arabs began shouting at them, compelling police to intervene. The Arabs then began attacking police.

Police permitted the Jews to continue with their visit.

The group in this latest incident was comprised of 30 dati leumi rabbonim. This included Rabbi Gideon Pearl (Rav of Alon Shvut), Rav Avraham Gisar (Rav of Yishuv Ofra), Rav Yitzhak Levy (Alon Shvut), Rabbi David Dudkevitz (Rav Yishuv Yitzhar), Rav Yaakov Medan (Rosh Yeshivat Har Etzion), Rav Yehuda Kroizer (Rav of Yishuv Mitzpei Yericho), Rav Yisrael Rosen (Zomet Institute), Rav Yosef Tzvi Rimon (Rav Alon Shvut South), Rav Yisrael Ariel (Temple Institute) and others. The rabbonim visited as this week Israel observes Yom Yerushalayim.

The rabbonim discussed the Halacha pertaining to one visiting Har Habayis and the different piskei Halacha. They stress that visiting Har Habayis is permitted amid a realization one must be aware of the kedusha of the site and visitation must be within the framework of Halacha. They explain that one may not visit the area where the Mikdosh was located because today we are all ‘tamei meis’. They explain this is why one may not approach the center of Har Habayis, especially the Dome of the Rock, which we believe is the location of Kodesh Kedoshim. The rabbonim stressed the importance of adhering to Halacha and one that does not chas v’sholom incur karess.

The attacks against Jewish visitors are commonplace as they usually result in police rushing the visitors off the area. Hence the Muslims have learned that by becoming violent and offensive they will succeed in removing the Jews from the site. In this case they were permitted to continue with their visit.

Ironically, Yariv Oppenheimer, the director-general of the radical left-wing Peace Now organization criticized the rabbis, pointing out to them that Rav Kook ZT”L opposed visiting Har Habayis. While Oppenheimer is not motivated by concern for Halacha, his statement is in line with the ruling of Maran HaGaon HaRav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv ZT”L and other poskim prohibiting Jews from visiting Har Habayis. This is also the position of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. Oppenheimer wrote on his Facebook page “The settler leadership continues to recreate Yiddishkheit”.

He added that after some dati leumi rabbonim permitted construction in yishuvim on Shabbos and there was the psak permitting the murder of nochrim and now the heter to visit Har Habayis.

Oppenheimer continues “I am not a religious person and regarding freedom of religion in holy sites, this is an integral component of the peace agreement which we back. However it is sad to see how people from the religious Zionist camp create a new religion to adapt the political struggle that they are running”. He points out in the cases mentioned the rulings of dati leumi rabbonim are in contradiction of “Gedolei Yisrael and it appears in the name of settlements and the struggle with the Palestinians everything is permitted, even changing Halacha.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)