Jews Arrested For Crime of PRAYING Atop Temple Mount

The Temple Mount, site of the two Temples is the most holy place in the world to the Jews.

Between 1948 and 1967 when the Mount was recaptured by the IDF Jews weren't allowed near the site. After 1967 when Israel recaptured Judaism's Holy Site (and Moshe Dayan returned it to the Muslim Waqf) Jews were allowed to the outside retaining wall of the mount (also known as the Western Wall) and sometimes even on top of the Temple Mount just as long as they didn't try to pray atop of the mount.  Christians are banned from prayer also.  The only group permitted to pray at the site of the Jewish Temples are Muslims. That rule is  enforced by Israeli police.

Israeli police and Waqf guards keep close tabs on visitors identifiable as religious Jews. If any are seen moving their lips in prayer, or prostrating themselves on the smooth stones of the shrine, they are expelled and sometimes detained.

This morning ten Jewish men were detained by police after they were accused of praying and bowing inside the Temple Mount enclosure on Monday morning.

The group reportedly said prayers, sang “Hatikva,” the Israeli national anthem, unfurled an Israeli flag and began dancing. The men were removed and police closed the site to visitors.

While the Palestinians keep complaining that Israel is trying to "take over" the temple mount for the Jews today's action is another example of how Israel goes overboard to protect the 'sensitivity" of the areas Muslims by not allowing Jews and Christians to worship at the holy site, even though the Koran recognizes the holiness of the site to the Jews.

(Koran, Sura 2:145, "The Cow")

"...They would not follow thy direction of prayer (qiblah), nor art thou to follow their direction of prayer; nor indeed will they follow each other's direction of prayer..."  

Commentators explain that "thy qiblah" (direction of prayer for Muslims) clearly refers the Ka'bah of Mecca, while "their qiblah" (direction of prayer for Jews) refers to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

This Koranic passage appears to show that the holiness of Jerusalem a Jewish concept, and should not be confused with an Islamic concept. The 13th-century Arab biographer and geographer Yakut noted: "Mecca is holy to Muslims, and Jerusalem to the Jews."

Yet when the Temple Mount is discussed in the press, it is called a holy site for both faiths.   And even though Israeli police protect the area from the "horrors" of non Muslim prayer-both the press and the UN give credence to the Muslim/Palestinian claim that Israel is trying to desecrate THEIR holy site.

An American couple was honeymooning in Jerusalem and has a chance encounter with Yitzhak Aharonovich , Israel's public security minister. Aharonovichr asks them if they are enjoying their trip. They respond that it is wonderful, that the only thing missing was they had always wanted to visit the temple mount. Being a nice guy Aharonovich says he could arrange it for them.

The groom tells Avi that he understands there are things the couple are not allowed to do on top of the temple mount. He reminds Aharonovich that they are newlyweds and asks if it would be OK if they stole a quick kiss while no one was looking. "Of course" said Yitzhak . "What if it was a long kiss?" "Well you are newlyweds said the public security minister" "What if we no longer could control our passion, riped off each others cloths and made mad passionate love..right there in front of everyone?" "I supposed that would be OK, you are married" What if we were overwhelmed with ecstasy we screamed out at the top of our lungs OH GOD, OH GOD !"

"ARE YOU CRAZY?"   Asked Aharonovich, "THAT COULD LEAD TO PRAYER!"