United States Congressman Scott R. Tipton (R-Co) and Congressman David B. McKinley (R-WV) were detained by Israeli police on Thursday morning, 7 Adar, for picking up an olive branch on a visit to Har Habayis.

The two American lawmakers, who are on a week long fact-finding mission hosted by Proclaiming Justice to the Nations and Jaffe Strategies, ascended Har Habayis with a group of Jewish pilgrims led by Rabbi Chaim Richman of the Temple Institute. After picking up a fallen olive branch from the ground, the guard from the Islamic Waqf authority that was accompanying the group complained to the police escort, and the congressmen, who are both in their 70s, were physically removed from Har Habayis, frisked and detained for over half an hour at the Temple Mount police station.

They were scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday afternoon, where they intend to raise the issue of freedom of expression and their experiences on the Holy Site.

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

Im Tirtzu Director of Policy Alon Schvartzer responded to the detention of the two US Congressmen by Israeli police on the Temple Mount in a statement, saying: “The situation on the Temple Mount has reached a new low. This is a disgraceful reality that has long crossed the point of absurdity, and we cannot allow it to continue.”

“Israel must remember that it has sovereignty over Har Habayis, and not the Waqf. The time has come to provide freedom of worship to Jews, Christians and all those who wish to worship peacefully.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)