Dozens of Likud Youth to make controversial Temple Mount ascent

The group from all across the country will be led by the recently elected head of the Likud Youth, David Shayan.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Israeli police officers stand guard on the Temple Mount compound in Jerusalem's Old City (photo credit: REUTERS)
Israeli police officers stand guard on the Temple Mount compound in Jerusalem's Old City
(photo credit: REUTERS)
A group of as many as 50 members of the Likud Youth organization intend to pay a controversial visit to the Temple Mount Thursday morning.
The youth will follow in the footsteps of then-Likud leader Ariel Sharon, whose controversial visit to the Mount in 2000 was blamed for Palestinian rioting that had been planned in advance of the visit by then-Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
"Because of the events that were on Rosh Hashana, we want to strengthen our sovereignty at our holiest site," said Dor Harlap, one of the leaders of the Likud Youth and a candidate for the leadership of its council, the organization's second-most important post.
The group from all across the country will be led by the recently elected head of the Likud Youth, David Shayan.
It is expected that half of the group will be religiously observant while the other half will not. The religious youth will hold slichot prayers at the Western Wall and immerse in a mikve before ascending the Mount.
Harlap said the group would not hold an illegal prayer session but that he and his comrades would utter personal prayers silently.
"We made a similar visit when there were riots last year, and we knew we would be back," Harlap said. "We will pray in our hearts."