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Freedom of Religion in Jerusalem, Except For Jews

by Gavriel Dan
written by Gavriel Dan

The Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site, is the spot of today’s most blatant and obvious portrayal of anti-Semitism. The idea that a Jew, and only a Jew, is not allowed to utter even one word of prayer or bow his head while on the Temple Mount is a clear violation of religious rights. Whether a Jew should go up on the Temple Mount and cause “provocation” by just being there is an issue that many people debate. However, the fact that this status quo still exists is absurd.

“Over 500 people visited the Temple Mount on Tuesday, including 400 tourists. Eight, however, were forced off by the police for allegedly “violating the visiting conditions.”

Two Jewish visitors bowed down while on the site, in contravention of the status quo that bans Jews from praying while at their holiest site. After they did so, a number of Arabs attacked them, driving the pair to the ground. Police pushed back the rioters and forced the Jews to leave the site.”
Read more about this on Israel National News

Some may view Jewish visits to the Temple Mount as a peaceful protest and some may view it as a provocation. Regardless, it should be a human right to utter words, at least silently, when it harms nobody at all.

“Israeli public perception of the ban on Jewish prayer has shifted. Through the fruits of a long-term concerted PR campaign, now using updated jargon calling for “freedom of religion” and “human rights,” the previously fringe Temple Mount movement — while still intent on fighting the status quo that is preventing Jewish prayer there — is increasingly mainstreamed.”
Read more about this on TOI

“On the morning of Sunday, April 17, an Jewish man in his 40′s was detained on the Temple Mount after explaining the verse “Ana HaShem hoshia na (Please Lord, save us; Psalms 118:25)” during a talk in English on the Torah portion “Acharei Mot” while speaking to a group. When policemen heard the words “Ana HaShem”, a police officer approached the speaker and informed him that he was being detained on suspicion of praying. The police officer did not accept his explanation that he was not praying but rather giving an explanation of a Biblical verse to his group. The policemen interrupted him as he spoke in English, removed him from the Temple Mount and detained him.”

Read more about this story from Honenu

Meanwhile, the Israeli government continues to reassure the Jordanian Waqf, which administers the holy site, that it will uphold the status-quo and constrain access to Jews.
Read more about this on Jpost

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Why Have Israelis Dropped the Two State Solution?

by David Mark
written by David Mark

A recent Democracy Institute poll shows support for annexation of Judea and Samaria equal to its opposition. Given the fact that Israelis have endured over 20 years of Oslo education, the poll seems to be indicative of changing attitudes towards Judea and Samaria.

If this poll is accurate, the question arises: What caused the Israeli public to change of course?

Gaza a Turning Point

The destruction and uprooting of Jewish communities in Gaza was hailed at the time as the best chance for peace.  Israelis trusted Ariel Sharon and even believed the security guarantees offered by the Bush administration. Over the following 10 years Israelis’ basic assumptions about the world have been proven false. Assumptions include the following:

  • Arabs are interested in stability
  • Secularism will win out
  • America can always be trusted
  • Giving up land will bring peace
  • Security experts know what they are talking about

Given the above list, Israelis see no reason to give up on Judea and Samaria.  More and more these territories are seen as an integral part of the Jewish nation. However, despite the positive change in attitude towards annexation, other results from the poll should caution those in the Land of Israel camp.

For example, 61% of the Israeli public disagrees with maintaining the status-quo.  This result can be seen as a positive affirmation that Israelis want to push some sort of solution forward.  The question for those in the National Camp, is whose solution?

Those on the Right should take the opportunity to push forward a clear plan of action in reference to annexation. The goal should be to win the support of the slight majority willing to undergo some sort of geopolitical change.  If not, amnesia of past events will eventually take over again and endanger Israel.

Israel's_loss_of_land_1920_-_2012[1]

The Right needs to educate the country on Israel’s historical rights to all of the Land of Israel and what has been given up over the years.  The current culture in Israel and the geopolitical instability throughout the Middle East affords the country an opportunity to reverse some of the territorial setbacks that have occurred in the past.

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