Israel Matzav

No Jews, no tourists and not a whole lot of Muslims allowed on Temple Mount

Heeding warnings of Muslim riots on the Temple Mount, the Israeli police have closed the Mount on Friday except to blue Israeli identity card holders who are Muslim men over the age of 50 or Muslim women of any age.

The decision to only allow Muslim men over the age of 50, and women of any age, to pray at the site was made by Jerusalem police commander Nitzav Yossi Friyanti.

Further, only Muslim visitors with blue teudot zehut (identification cards), held by Israeli citizens and residents, would be allowed in.

Police are preparing around the Temple Mount and in alleys and entrances around the Old City for expected attempts to disrupt the public order.

The Temple Mount was closed to visitors by police on Thursday following rioting by Muslims in the area for "Prisoners Day," in which thousands of Arab residents of Judea, Samaria and Gaza demanded the release of Israeli-held terrorists. Those protests turned violent in Hevron, where police and soldiers were attacked with rocks.

It's time to either ban the Muslims altogether until they can behave themselves, or reach an arrangement like in Hebron where each religious group has its own exclusive days to pray at the site. 

Labels: Jerusalem Palestinians, Jerusalem police, Palestinians, Temple Mount

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:34 AM