The Islamic Waqf Authority continues to defy Israel and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu as it has opened a new mosque at Shar HaRachamim (Golden Gate).

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has given an order to prevent the opening of this mosque, but the Waqf Authority does not appear to be the slightest bit deterred in its mission to open the mosque, as seen in the accompanying photos, another step towards exerting total control of the holy site in defiance of Israeli claims of sovereignty.

The creation of the mosque compromises the ancient site, as the Waqf Authority does regularly, part of its objective of destroying any and all traces of the Jewish roots to the site.

The Regavim organization petitioned the High Court of Justice on the eve of Jerusalem Day with a renewed request to prevent the opening of the mosque. In its urgent appeal to the court, Regavim is seeking a temporary injunction for the closure of the building at Shar HaRachamim, based on documentation of the activities of the Muslim Waqf in recent days, which continues working to turn the Shar HaRachamim structure into a mosque, damaging the ancient structure and contrary to Netanyahu’s declarations that he ordered the closure of the building.

The petition to the High Court of Justice was filed in March, but Judge Meni Mazuz stated at the time that the state and the Waqf would file a preliminary response to the petition after 90 days (!), A period that actually allows the Waqf to implement its plan, which appears to be the case.

The security establishment marked the radical Islamic activity in the area as being carried out under the auspices of Hamas, and upon request of the state, the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court issued a closure order, but the Waqf ignored the order and continues to operate in the compound.

Regavim filed a request to shorten the timetable in the petition, but the State argued that the relevant State officials “are working to arrange the overall treatment of the Shar Rachamim compound, and therefore there is no room at this stage to issue an interim order”.

Justice Mazuz rejected Regavim’s request for an interim injunction, but in recent days the Waqf continues to carry out the illegal construction of the Shar HaRachamim building, including installation of ceiling fans, lighting, furniture and installation of partitions in a way that harms the ancient structure.

The exclusive use of the Muslim worshipers in the building makes it an official mosque, a move that causes the highest security threat in light of the security establishment’s assessment.

The Prime Minister declared at the end of February that “Israel did not agree to the opening of the mosque on the Mount.” The Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that Netanyahu had instructed “to enforce the court order without compromise and to keep the place closed,” but in practice it appears that the work to turn the place into a permanent mosque is reaching the point of no return.

“It is impossible to underestimate the tremendous damage caused to the rule of law from a situation in which criminals do whatever they like in a sacred site of unimaginable religious and archaeological significance, contrary to a court order,” says Yachin Zik, director of activities at Regavim. “Without an interim injunction, the invasion of the compound and the illegal work will continue, meaning that under the auspices of Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem is simply trampled.”

Attached are photos showing the current state of the structure, which is being used as a mosque, as well as a copy of the latest petition to the Supreme Court.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem / Photo Credit: קבוצת רוטרניק)