With Har Habayis being at the center of controversy, Minister of Education (Bayit Yehudi) Naftali Bennett on Monday, 27 Cheshvan, stated this is not the time for Jews to be davening on Har Habayis.

Bennett was speaking with Galei Yisrael, the Bayit Leumi party leader explained he has opted not to visit the holy site. He defends the right of every Jew to do so, adding as a young man in the 1980s he did so often, but now, he feels the current situation compels compliance with the instructions of Israel Police.

When asked to explain his position, he stated that he supports the current status quo, which prohibits tefilos on the site however he clarified he feels this is the case for the time begin. He explained the situation is volatile and he does not wish to be the cause of damage to the state of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Bennett also recently expressed support for the installation of security surveillance cameras on the holy site.

His words during the interview undoubtedly managed many of his party’s voters and supporters, who are among the strong supporters of visiting and davening on Har Habayis.

It must be noted: According to the Poskei Hador one is absolutely forbidden to visit the Temple Mount, and there is an Issur Kares for one that goes there.

Six years ago on Sukkos, Israeli President Shimon Peres paid a visit to the Sukkah of Maran Hagon 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 Hagon HaRav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv ZT”l and many others.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)