Supreme Court to hear petition over Jewish access to Temple Mount

Two applicants seeking permission for Jews to ascend to flashpoint Jerusalem holy site that has been denied since the coronavirus lockdown started, claim Jordan's Muslim trust, which oversees the area, has already been allowed back
i24NEWS|
The Supreme Court was due to hear a petition Monday to allow Jews to access to the Temple Mount compound in Jerusalem, which has been temporarily prohibited during the coronavirus crisis.
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  • The petitioners, Yehuda Etzion and Arnon Segal, are far-right activists who have been challenging the government to allow free access to the compound, which is holy to both Jews and Muslims.
    3 View gallery
    שוטרים מונעים ממתפללים לשתות מברזיות בהר הבית
    שוטרים מונעים ממתפללים לשתות מברזיות בהר הבית
    Israeli police officers escort Jewish visitors to the Temple Mount
    (Photo: Students for the Temple Mount)
    They claim that Israel made an arrangement with the Kingdom of Jordan to keep both Muslims and Jews off the Temple Mount while the coronavirus pandemic was at its height.
    The applicants' lawyer, far-right activist Itamar Ben-Gvir, maintained that Jordan's Waqf (Islamic trust), which has day-to-day control over the Temple Mount, was allowed back while Jews were still banned.
    3 View gallery
    A volunteer sprays hand sanitizer for a Palestinian man on his way   to perform Friday prayers in the nearly deserted Al-Aqsa mosque   compound in the Old City of Jerusalem, March 20 2020
    A volunteer sprays hand sanitizer for a Palestinian man on his way   to perform Friday prayers in the nearly deserted Al-Aqsa mosque   compound in the Old City of Jerusalem, March 20 2020
    A masked volunteer sprays hand sanitizer for a Palestinian man on his way to Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, March 2020
    (Photo: AFP)
    The petitioners argue that preventing Jews from ascending while Muslims are allowed up is unconstitutional. They further claimed that banning Segal, who is also a journalist, was a violation of the freedom of the press.
    Even within Jerusalem, which has many contending traditions and religious affiliations, the Temple Mount is a highly sensitive location and has been the site of multiple clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinian worshipers.
    3 View gallery
    אבטחה ושמירה מפני עימותים בהר הבית
    אבטחה ושמירה מפני עימותים בהר הבית
    Police and Palestinians clash on the Temple Mount
    (Photo: AP)
    Jews revere the area as the site of both of the First and Second Jewish Temples, while for the last 1,300 years, Muslims have worshiped at the place where the Prophet Mohammad is traditionally believed to have ascended to heaven.
    While Jews are permitted to ascend to the Temple Mount in heavily restricted numbers and only through one of the 12 gates, there are strict restrictions on prayer at Judaism's holiest site.
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