The Ichud HaLeumi Party wrote to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan demanding that the directive be rescinded preventing cabinet ministers from visiting Har Habayis while permitting MKs from doing so on Tuesday, 7 Elul.

Minister Uri Ariel stated, “Har Habayis is the holiest site for the Jewish people and the decision to allow MKs to go up to Har Habayis, but not ministers is a scandal”.

Ariel, head of Ichud Leumi, used to visit the holy site regularly until the ban was placed on cabinet ministers, prohibiting them from doing so.

Since the outbreak of the escalation in terror and Arab violence last Tishrei, Israel Police has decided not to allow Members of Knesset to visit Har Habayis.

On Monday, the Knesset officer issued a statement saying that a “pilot” period would begin on Tuesday allowing MKs interested in visiting Har Habayis under the terms and conditions that were decided to do so, but unfortunately this decision will not apply to ministers and they will still be prevented from going up to Har Habayis.

A letter was sent by an attorney representing Ichud Leumi to PM Netanyahu and Minister of Public Security Gilad seeking to have the prohibition against cabinet ministers visiting lifted as is the case with MKs, threatening if not, the party will take its case to the High Court of Justice on Wednesday.

Gedolei Yisrael over the generations and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel prohibit visiting Har Habayis, which they explain carries the punishment of karess.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)