Moderate Jordan is doing its utmost to make certain the pressure on Israel regarding Har Habayis remains on the front page news. In its latest statement, following clashes on Har Habayis on Sunday the first day of Chol Hamoed Pesach, Jordan released statements accusing Israel of violating the religious status-quo vis-à-vis al-Aqsa Mosque and Har Habayis.
Jordanian Minister of Media Affairs Mohammad al-Momani told the press that both Israeli police and “settlers” stormed “Al-Haram al-Sharif”, aka, al-Aqsa Mosque. He accuses Israel of being in violation of international law, warning this could “lead to serious consequences”.
As Har Habayis activists in Israel continue to urge Israelis to visit the site during chol hamoed, chareidi MKs are warning that continuing to “provoke the nations” in addition to the halachic ramifications of these visits will result in “harm to Jewish lives” as MK Moshe Gafne told both Makor Rishon and NRG News during chol hamoed interviews.
It must be noted: According to the Poskei Hador one is absolutely forbidden to visit Har Habayis, and there is an Isur Karess for one that goes there.
A number of years ago on Sukkos, President Shimon Peres paid a visit to the Sukkah of Maran HaGaon 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 HaGaon HaRav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv ZT”L and many others.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
One Response
Does Jordan have any political teeth? Israel wouldn’t even HAVE Har Habayis if pathetic Jordan hadn’t tried to fight Israel in ’67, losing about half its country as a result. (Though HKB”H might use them to enforce the issur of going up to Har Habayis.)