Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich announced Wednesday night that the entrance to the Temple Mount for both Jews and Muslims is closed until further notice.
The decision was made in the wake of the attempt on the life of Temple Mount activist Rabbi Yehuda Glick on Wednesday.
Even before Aharonovich’s announcement, right-wing MKs Shuli Mualem (Bayit Yehudi) and Moshe Feiglin (Likud) have said they intended to go up on the Temple Mount at 8am Thursday to pray, despite the delicate situation and rising tensions in the area.
MK Moshe Feiglin at the Temple Mount (Photo: Michael Fua)
“There’s no other way,” Mualem said. “It’s the Jews’ right to visit the Temple Mount and pray there and what happened tonight is a warning sign that proves to us that if we concede to such dictates, terrorism wins.”
Feiglin, who regularly visits the holy site, added: “I’m shocked of what happened, even though it was expected. I say this as someone who is the target of constant incitement on Facebook, social media and websites. The government’s weakness and incompetence in handling terrorism have led to this attempted murder, as well as our concessions by closing the Temple Mount for prayers.”
