Group claims metal detector checks for Jews are discrimination

A Jewish advocacy group claims that if metal detectors on Temple Mount are offensive to Arabs, they are offensive for Jewish people and tourists as well and should be removed.

VIEW OVER The Temple Mount. Right: Al-Aksa Mosque. Left: Dome of the Rock. ( (photo credit: Mark Neiman/GPO)
VIEW OVER The Temple Mount. Right: Al-Aksa Mosque. Left: Dome of the Rock. (
(photo credit: Mark Neiman/GPO)

The Jewish advocacy group Utzma Yhudit (Jewish Strength) appealed to the Supreme Court asking it to remove the metal detectors placed at the Temple Mount's Mughrabi Gate in Jerusalem,which is the only gate from which non-Muslims can enter the compound.

The appeal was submitted to the court by lawyer Itamar Ben-Gvir and states that the decision of the Israeli cabinet to remove metal detectors from gates that serve Muslims and their continued use for Jews and tourists "creates a reality of discrimination due to nationality and damages the right of Jews and tourists to equality.”

On July 14, 2017, three Arab terrorists shot Israeli policemen outside the Temple Mount compound, killing two police officers.  

The three terrorists, all Arab Israeli citizens, fled back to the Temple Mount compound where they were captured and shot by Israeli police.

The Israeli government accepted the proposition by police that metal detectors should be used to prevent further attacks but Muslims refused to walk through them to enter al-Aksa mosque, stating that they view the detectors as a violation of the status quo.

Eventually, the detectors were removed.

Utzma Yhudit told the court that “there can be no disagreement that the decision to remove the detectors [used in relation to] Muslims was taken due to the race [sic] of these Muslims and them being Arabs.”

They requested that the usage of detectors in relation to Jews and non-Muslims be halted until the court reaches a decision.