JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Foreign Minister Yair Lapid reiterated Sunday Israel’s commitment to maintaining the current status quo on the Temple Mount, which prevents Jews and Christians from worshiping at the holy site. Lapid also blamed Palestinian terror groups for the rising violence at the Mount, which has become the symbol of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
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“Israel is committed to the status quo on the Temple Mount,” said Lapid, in a briefing to foreign journalists at his Jerusalem ministry on Sunday afternoon. “Muslims pray on the Temple Mount, non-Muslims only visit. There is no change, there will be no change.”
In the briefing Lapid said that “In the past three weeks, there has been a dangerous effort underway in Jerusalem. During Ramadan, terrorist organizations have been trying to hijack the Al-Aqsa Mosque in order to create an outbreak of violence in Jerusalem, and from there, a violent conflict across the country. Hamas and Islamic Jihad extremists burst into Al-Aqsa Mosque in the early mornings, again and again. They brought weapons into the Mosque. They threw rocks and explosives from within it, and used it as a base to incite violent riots.”
“It is not Israel that endangered worshippers -it is the terrorist organizations who endangered them.”
“I want to clarify: Israel is committed to the status quo on the Temple Mount. Muslims pray on the Temple Mount, non-Muslims visit. There is no change. There will be no change. We have no plans to divide the Temple Mount between religions. We call on Muslim moderates, on Muslim states, to act against this fake news, and to work together with us to ensure our common interest: preservation of the status quo and calming the situation.”
“During Ramadan, Israel ensured that hundreds of thousands of Muslims could go to the Temple Mount and pray at Al-Aqsa. Despite provocations by terrorist organizations, despite attempts to stoke violence: We have done, and continue to do everything to enable peaceful prayer. In fact, the only disruption to prayers yesterday, was a Hamas rally which took place on the Temple Mount. Hamas terrorists stood there and openly called for the murder of Jews. That is Hamas’s prayer – an antisemitic call for the slaughter of innocents.”
“One last issue: Israel will not accept rocket fire from Gaza. Period. We have a zero-tolerance policy for attacks on our territory. Because of such rocket fire, we took the decision not to enable workers from Gaza to enter Israel today. In Gaza, like in Jerusalem, Hamas is primarily abusing its own people. Before Ramadan, we announced that if this period would pass quietly, we would double the number of work permits from Gaza to 20,000. That is 20,000 workers who would be able to work daily in Israel and support their families. In light of recent events, we will have to examine this decision carefully.”
“You know, when festivals of the three religions coincide, it should be a cause for joy. We should be able to celebrate together. Respect one another. Enjoy one another’s traditions and cultures. That is the true spirit of Jerusalem. I believe that is what the majority want, and that is what the silent majority does.”
Lapid’s attempts to defuse tensions regarding Temple Mount followed comments by Diaspora Minister Nachman Shai claiming that Jews do actually pray while on the Mount. Shai told Israel’s Kan News that
“There are a lot more Jews who are going up to the Temple Mount. There are some that stop on the way and pray, which was forbidden.” Lapid later claimed that Shai was “misinformed” although he admitted that “somebody might sneak by, now and then”.
Lapid said that, in line with Israel’s official policy, the police who enforce order on the Temple Mount are instructed to prevent Jewish prayer. However,he added that he finds fault with a policy that prevents Jewish worship in the Jewish state.
“By the way, I don’t feel comfortable with the idea that Jews do not have freedom of religion in the State of Israel and that Jews are banned from the site,” Lapid said.
“I do know what instructions the police have – and they’re enforcing them to the best of their ability – that Muslims can pray on the Temple Mount and that other religions can visit,” said the foreign minister.
Lapid also noted that Israel has prevented provocations from Jews seeking to assert themselves on the Temple Mount or in Muslim areas of the Old City.
“Israel has made substantial efforts to stop Jewish extremist elements as well,” he said, in a reference to an attempt by fringe groups to bring a “Korban Pesach”, a Passover sacrifice on Temple Mount.