Rivlin to meet with spiritual leaders of all faiths, call to maintain calm at Temple Mount

Leaders expected to issue a joint-statement on the need for mutual respect and tolerance among the different religious sectors in Israel.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Updated: APRIL 12, 2016 16:19
President Reuven Rivlin (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
President Reuven Rivlin
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Renewed pilgrimages to the Temple Mount have brought about fear that, as the Passover holiday approaches, a violent upsurge will break out.
Following consultations with the Ministry of Defense and the National Security Council, President Reuven Rivlin decided to meet with leaders of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim world in order to issue a joint call to act with restraint and maintain calm in the wake of the holiday, Channel 2 reported.
The meeting is expected to take place Wednesday afternoon, and will be attended by Chief Rabbi David Lau, spiritual leader of the Druze Community Mowafaq Tarif, and Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem. The Muslim community will be represented by three representatives.
Participants are expected to issue a joint-statement on the need for mutual respect and tolerance among the different religious sectors in Israel.
Last month during the Purim holiday, the grand mufti of Jerusalem Sheikh Muhammad Hussein called on Muslims to make pilgrimage to al-Aksa in order to defend the mosque from Israel's attempts to Judaize it.
His comments were in light of "the Israeli measures against the pilgrims arriving to the mosque."
Hussein's call to rescue al-Aksa from "Judaization and division" was reiterated by Hamas, who urged all Palestinians living in the West Bank and Israel to "gather around al-Aksa."
Palestinians view the recent visits by Israelis to Temple Mount as a threat and violation of the status quo at the holy site.
Maayan Groisman contributed to this report.