Israel's Supreme Court to hear Temple Mount access petition
Two applicants are requesting access for Jews to ascend to the holy ground, denied since the lockdown started
Israel's Supreme Court is due to hear a petition Monday to allow Jews to once more ascend to the Temple Mount, which has been temporarily prohibited during the coronavirus crisis.
A recent Jerusalem Post article highlighted the petitioners' - Yehuda Etzion and Arnon Segal - claim that Israel activated a secret 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, activist Itamar Ben Gvir who also leads the far-right Otzma Yehudit party maintained that Jordan's Waqf (Islamic religious authority), which has day-to-day control over the Temple Mount, was allowed back, while Jews were still banned.
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.
Ben Gvir added that the state's request to not allow the petitioners to be present at the hearing and a refusal to publicize its policy was a tacit admission that the secret deal with Jordan was in effect.
Even within Jerusalem, which has many contending traditions and religious affiliations, the Temple Mount is a highly sensitive location. Jews revere the area around the Dome of the Rock as the likely site of both of the First and Second Temples, while for the last 1,300 years, Muslims have worshiped at the place where the Prophet Muhammad is thought 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.