Police detained a Jewish male who tried blowing shofar near Har Habayis. When they appeared before Jerusalem Magistrate Justice Mirit Forer, police asked to distance the male from Har Habayis for 60 days in response to their actions. The youth was arrested on erev Shabbos during the afternoon hours, near one of the entrances to Har Habayis. Police alleged they wanted to blow shofar. He was released closed to candle lighting time on erev Shabbos.
The policeman explained that he was assaulted by the male, but the policewoman when questioned by the Honenu attorney stated she did not witness the suspect assault or attempt to assault anyone. The attorney added there is no sign prohibiting one from blowing or carrying a shofar near Har Habayis, questioning why the youth was detained.
Justice Forer explained police lack evidence to prove any illegal activity occurred and therefore there was no justification for distancing the youths from Har Habayis.
The second youth was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to sneak onto Har Habayis on Tisha B’Av with tefilin. Honenu explained there is no prohibition for one to bring tefilin with him.
Police then explained the youth bit one of them during his arrest. However, the surveillance video did not substantiate the police allegation, proving there was no justification for police to strike him as they did.
Honenu argued there is no justification to distance him from Har Habayis and no reason whatsoever to place any restrictions on the young man, calling for the court to intervene to bring an immediate end to the ongoing police harassment and discrimination on Har Habayis.
It is added that Gedolei Yisrael throughout the generations have ruled one may not visit Har Habayis. This is the ruling of Gedolei Yisrael today as well, in addition to being the position of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
It’s a stupid law but maybe it would be better if people didn’t try to break it? And since the Israeli “police” love getting people in trouble, maybe people shouldn’t even try to go onto Har Habayis.