In an amazing turn of events, the unthinkable seems to be taking place. It appears that Israel may be taking back control over the Temple Mount.
Shortly after Israel’s stunning victory over her Muslim neighbors in the 6-day war in June, 1967, the Israeli government handed control of the Temple Mount back over to Islamic authorities. Since this time, the Temple Mount has become the center of the conflict between Israel’s struggle for peace with the Palestinians. In order to maintain peace, the Israeli government has attempted to keep the status quo so as to not enrage the Islamic world and bring about a major war over this mountain that is the center of Israel’s history in the land since the days of King David 3,000 years ago. For several years now, Israeli police have been stationed around the perimeter of this highly sensitive area. Jews and Christian tourists have been strictly limited to access this area, and when they do, they are not allowed to carry a Bible or pray.
In an amazing turn of events, on Friday, July 14, three Muslim terrorists smuggled guns onto the Temple Mount during the time of prayer. As they left, they opened fire on several Israeli police, killing two of them. The Temple Mount was immediately closed. When it reopened on Sunday, Israel had installed metal detectors to protect the people entering the Temple Mount area. This has been happening in another area near the Wailing Wall for many years. Anyone entering this area must submit to this check point and pass through the metal detection security. Each time I have gone to Israel, my group passes through this check point.
In response to these security measures, the Muslims authorities, along with the Muslim world, are boycotting the Temple Mount area. Consequently, for the first time in decades, this has opened up the opportunity for many more Israelis and tourists to go up to the Temple Mount.
According to Breaking Israel News, the following announcement has followed: “The Islamic [authorities] jurisdiction over the Temple Mount is over and Israel will now work to reestablish Jewish sovereignty over the holy site,” said Knesset Member Avi Dichter (Likud) on Tuesday.
‘Israel is the sovereign on the Temple Mount, period. The fact that the [Islamic authorities] became a sovereign on the Temple Mount ended last Friday,’ declared Dichter, chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and former head of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), on Israeli public radio, Israel National News reported.
“The question of our policy [at the Temple Mount] may not be clear to the Palestinians, but it is very clear to us… The Mount will remain under the control of the Israel Police.’”
It remains to be seen what these turn of events will produce. Certainly, it appears that Israel, with its good friend in the White House, is flexing its muscle unlike anything we have witnessed in recent decades.
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