This is a very long but interesting review of the history of conflict on the Temple Mount and in Jerusalem generally. Barnea poses the question, “We have the right to pray on the TM but should we exercise that right?” PM Netanyahu says “no”. Feiglin says “yes”. While I am in agreement that we should be more aggressive in confronting lawlessness, I am with Bibi on the question of banning Jewish prayer. We must choose our battles carefully. Israel has many battles to fight now. We must assert our sovereignty all over Jerusalem which means enforce our law. We must ensure the log term future of Jewish Jerusalem. We must build houses much more aggresively. Prayer on the TM can wait. Ted Belman
With far-right MKs stampeding up to the Temple Mount, and the Muslim world certain Israel is trying to change the status quo there, Netanyahu would do well to heed some wise words from a veteran lawmaker.
By Nahum Barnea, YNET
On the night of September, 27, 2000, I found myself at the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem. Shimon Shiffer and I had interviewed Ehud Barak ahead of Rosh Hashanah, and a number of loose ends needed to be tied up before press time. The conversation went on until after midnight. Before we parted, I asked Barak if he planned on going to sleep. Sleep, he asked. Ariel Sharon’s decided to visit the Temple Mount tomorrow morning. I need to call the police chief, to make sure that the police are okay, and there are more things to coordinate.
Why is Sharon visiting the Temple Mount all of a sudden, I asked.
Barak waved his hand dismissively. “It is an internal Likud issue,” he said. “Sharon needs it to screw Netanyahu.”
Why are you allowing him, I asked.
“Because if we prohibit him, he’ll go the High Court of Justice,” Barak said. “We can’t prohibit him.” Read more…