Rabbis to Knesset: Extend sovereignty to Temple Mount

Petition comes ahead of deliberation by lawmakers on policies regarding hotly contested Jerusalem holy site.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Police patrol near the Temple Mount 370 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Police patrol near the Temple Mount 370
(photo credit: REUTERS)
A group of rabbis and yeshiva heads have submitted a petition to the Knesset demanding legislation to extend Jewish sovereignty on the Temple Mount.
Riots broke out again on Friday on the Temple Mount in response to growing tension on the issue.
The petition comes ahead of Knesset deliberation on policies regarding the Temple Mount, due to begin in the middle of next week. The session will review a proposal by MK Moshe Feiglin (Likud) to place the entire Temple Mount under Israeli supervision.
The discussion follows rioting earlier this month on the Temple Mount after Friday Muslim prayers, when rocks were thrown at police. The violence came a day after police closed the holy site to Jews to avert another riot, following numerous anonymous threats of violence from Arabs should any Jews ascend the mount.
Jordanian ministers have expressed strong disapproval of any challenge to Jordan’s sovereignty over Jerusalem’s Muslim and Christian holy sites. The Jordanian parliament’s lower house even voted early in February to expel Israeli Ambassador Daniel Nevo and to recall the Jordanian Ambassador to Israel, Walid Obeidat.
President Shimon Peres assured Jordan this month that Israel would honor its agreements with Jordan and ensure that all worshipers could pray in their holy sites.
Daniel K. Eisenbud contributed to this report.