What You Can and Cannot Say on the Temple Mount

Activist and attorney Itamar Ben-Gvir was arrested on Wednesday while visiting the Temple Mount when he responded to Muslim extremists’ shouts of “Allahu Akbar” by calling out “Am Yisrael chai!”.

In court yesterday, Judge Menachem Hacohen of the Magistrate’s Court in Jerusalem ruled that Ben-Gvir’s saying “Am Yisrael chai!” does not constitute a breach of public order and likewise isn’t a prayer. He ordered Ben-Gvir’s immediate release.

So here’s the rule: you cannot utter a prayer on the Temple Mount, but you can shout pro Israel slogans. The Waqf is not going to be happy when they hear about this. Please don’t tell them, just yet.

[bctt tweet=”you cannot utter a prayer on the Temple Mount, but you can shout pro Israel slogans.”]

Here’s a video of the incident and arrest:

Doesn’t actually look like there were too many Arabs harassing him, but maybe it was an off time at Al Aqsa? Or maybe the police made a bigger deal about this than necessary? It seems like the judge thought so, or else he wouldn’t be so lenient.

On the other hand, the law is the law and according to the present one, non Muslims are not allowed to recite prayers or scripture on the Temple Mount. The phrase “Am Yisrael Chai” isn’t in the Jewish prayer book or scriptures, so it’s totally kosher.

According to the original Arutz 7 report the police were harassing Jews waiting to visit the Temple Mount by making them wait for hours while allowing non Jewish visitors to enter without delay.

“Ben-Gvir noted that he had only complained to a police officer about the discriminatory entry policy against Jews, and that he had heard the same officer cursing him over the police communications devices. That same officer was the one who detained him on the Mount.”

The police also claimed that Ben-Gvir had caused a disruption while entering the site, but the judge dismissed the claim.

Something to ponder: The Temple Mount, which is the holiest piece of real estate in Judaism is the only place in the world where it is illegal for a Jews to pray. Something about that just doesn’t seem very “kosher”.

[bctt tweet=”The Temple Mount, which is the holiest piece of real estate in Judaism is the only place in the world where it is illegal for a Jews to pray.” via=”no”]

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