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State appeals ruling allowing quiet Jewish prayer on Temple Mount

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State appeals ruling allowing quiet Jewish prayer on Temple Mount
Public Security Minister Omer Bar Lev warned on Friday that the court ruling implying support for quiet Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount would “endanger the public peace and could cause a flare-up,” as Palestinians warned against a change in the status quo at the site.

On Wednesday, the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court heard the appeal of Aryeh Lipo, a Jewish visitor to the Temple Mount who had been removed and distanced from the complex for 15 days after a police officer ordered him to stop praying during a visit on Yom Kippur.

After watching a recording of the incident, Justice Bilha Yahalom ruled that the appellant’s behavior did not violate the law or police instructions on the Temple Mount, as he was praying without a crowd and quietly in a way that was not external or visible. The ruling stated as well that Israel Police did not dispute that Lipo, like many others, prays on a daily basis on the Temple Mount.

The justice additionally dismissed the notion that Lipo posed any danger or committed any violation with his quiet prayer, despite claims by police to the contrary.

While the High Court of Justice has ruled in the past that Jews do have the legal right to pray on the Temple Mount, police have cited security concerns to impose a blanket prohibition on Jewish prayer.

Jewish visitors to the site are informed upon entry that prayer and religious items such as prayer books or prayer shawls or forbidden in the complex, although, since late 2019, Jewish visitors have been able to pray quietly, in certain parts of the site, relatively undisturbed.

Bar Lev announced on Friday that Israel Police would appeal the ruling because “a change in the status quo will endanger the public peace and could cause a flare-up.”

“The State of Israel advocates freedom of worship and prayer for all, however, in view of the security implications, the status quo must be upheld that the prayer of Jews on the Temple Mount will take place next to the Western Wall and the prayer of Muslims will take place in al-Haram al-Sharif,” said Bar Lev.

Israel Police clashes with rioters outside of al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount (credit: JAMAL AWAD/FLASH90)

Palestinians called for a “general mobilization” at al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday in response to the court ruling, with the announcement showing figures throwing stones.

Palestinian media additionally claimed on Friday that Israeli security forces prevented some worshipers from reaching the al-Aqsa Mosque for dawn and noon prayers, although hundreds of worshippers were reportedly present at the mosque for dawn prayers.

The worshipers at dawn reportedly chanted “With our blood and souls we will redeem you, al-Aqsa,” a chant often used amid tensions surrounding the Temple Mount.

On Thursday, the Hamas movement called the ruling a “clear declaration of war” and a “blatant aggression against the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque” on Thursday.

“The battle of the sword of Jerusalem was not and will not be the last chapter of the confrontation under the title of Jerusalem, and the resistance that was promised and fulfilled confirms that it is ready and prepared to repel aggression and defend rights,” warned Hamas.

Friday also marks 31 years since the 1990 Temple Mount riots, in which about 20 Palestinians were killed and 19 policemen, a number of Western Wall worshippers and over 100 Palestinians were injured in violent riots on the Temple Mount during the Sukkot holiday.

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Father of fallen soldier urges world: Acknowledge Gazan civilians’ role in Oct. 7

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Father of fallen soldier urges world: Acknowledge Gazan civilians’ role in Oct. 7



The father of the late Sgt. Roni Eshel, z” l, who was tragically murdered by Hamas on October 7, urged the world to acknowledge that Gazan civilians were among those who infiltrated Israel and carried out the massacre that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals.

“A lot of terrorist people came into Israel, but not just terrorist people – civilians – that are asking for humanitarian help today from the whole world,” Eyal Eshel said at The Jerusalem Post Women Leaders Summit in Tel Aviv on Wednesday evening. “Remember, there were terrorists, a lot of terrorists, and civilians.”

Eshel was at the event to receive the Woman of Valor award on behalf of his daughter, a vigilant soldier who bravely fought against Hamas. She was among those who had forewarned about Hamas’s impending actions on that fateful day.

Eyal Eshel (center) receives the Woman of Valor award on behalf of his daughter, the late Sgt. Roni Eshel on March 27, 2024 (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)

Remembering Sgt. Roni Eshel

“She was a beautiful girl,” Eshel said of his daughter, who served as a surveillance soldier at the Nahal Oz base near Kibbutz Nahal Oz. The base was among the most brutally hit during the attack. Fifteen surveillance soldiers were killed, and six more were taken hostage on October 7. In total, 66 troops were killed in the attack on the base. “Her smile is the only thing we have today – a memory of Roni.”

Before the event, Eshel told The Jerusalem Post that Roni “began smiling just two hours after her birth” and radiated joy throughout her life. He said she embraced life passionately, cherished her friendships, reveled in celebrations, and deeply loved food. Cooking, particularly Asian and Italian dishes, was something at which Roni excelled.

Roni was 19 years and seven months old when she was murdered.

Learn more about the Women Leaders Summit.

Watch the summit.





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Saudi commentator reveals Israel’s new tactic that shook Hezbollah and Iran

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Saudi commentator reveals Israel’s new tactic that shook Hezbollah and Iran



Assad Awad, the military commentator from the Saudi channel Al-Hadath, appeared on the channel on Thursday. He addressed the situation in Israel’s north and analyzed the IDF’s tactics in the region.

Awad addressed Israel’s conflict between Hezbollah and Iran. Speaking on the conflict, Awad suggested, “Israel was surprised by the extent of the tunnels in Gaza and the military methods [of Hamas,] and it has adopted a new strategy for regional deterrence,” he said at the outset.

In the heart of civilian villages: Hezbollah’s weapon production

In the initial stage, according to Awad, “Israel severely hit Iranian shipment operations to the region and destroyed many weapon shipments that were on their way from Iran.

“In the next stage, warehouses in eastern Syria were attacked and destroyed. [The warehouses] contain[ed] weapons that could have been deployed to the border with Israel within hours. In fact, it undermined Iran’s supply lines to Hezbollah and Iranian militias in the region.

The exterior of a house damaged by a rocket fired by Hezbollah in Lebanon, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, near Israel’s border with Lebanon in northern Israel. March 19, 2024. (credit: CARLOS GARCIA RAWLINS/REUTERS)

“All these actions may serve as a prelude to more significant activities, which may include the destruction of Hezbollah tunnels or at least disrupting the fortifications along the border with Lebanon, stretching over 79 kilometers, as well as in the Golan Heights area, which is expected to be much more challenging.”

Awad went on to clarify that “Geographically, the Golan Heights area – facing Shebaa Farms, is a tough terrain considered a Hezbollah stronghold. Israeli airstrikes will not be advantageous there, and Israel will need to show creativity in finding new operational tactics.”

In his remarks, he referred to the Mountains Brigade, which will begin its operations in the coming weeks – at the height of the war, and will operate in the sectors of Mount Hermon and Mount Dov. 

“Forces in the Mountains Brigade participated in the 2006 war and come with a deep familiarity with Hezbollah’s tunnels,'” he said.

“In recent weeks, Hezbollah has begun building tunnels from Syria to Lebanon, aiming to transfer weapons from the arsenals, but at this stage, there is no benefit in tunnels. I estimate 70%-80% of the arsenals have been destroyed,” Awad theorized. “This is expected to delay any plan Hezbollah seeks to implement, and this may be Israel’s opportunity.”

Jerusalem Post staff contributed to this report.





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Gazan support for a two-state-solution doubled since December – poll

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Gazan support for a two-state-solution doubled since December – poll



According to recent polling, the proportion of Gazans who support a two-state solution has nearly doubled since December, from 35% to 62%.

The polling, conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR), was conducted between March 5 and 10 in the West Bank and areas of the Gaza Strip where there was “no ongoing daily fighting.”

The PCPSR conducted previous surveys in September and December 2023, during which the change in support for a two-state solution by Gazans was minimal, 34% to 35%, respectively. 

Compared to Gaza, support for a two-state solution in the West Bank barely grew, from 30% in Septemeber 2023 to 33% by December and 34% by March.

The PCPSR links support for a two-state solution to the feasibility of the solution and the chances of a Palestinian state.

Security personnel guard trucks carrying aid as they arrive in Rafah, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in the southern Gaza Strip January 17, 2024. (credit: MOHAMMED SALEM/REUTERS)

Palestinians split on achieving a Palestinian State

The data also showed a clear drop in support for armed resistance as the best means of achieving a Palestinian State from its peak in December. 

In December, support for armed resistance across the Palestinian Territories was 63%, 68% in the West Bank and 56% in the Gaza Strip.

The latest polling showed support for armed resistance at 46% across the Palestinian Territories, 51% in the West Bank, and 39% in the Gaza Strip.

Although both showed a drop in support for armed resistance, the West Bank and Gaza Strip diverged on the alternative to armed resistance.

The West Bank showed an increase in support for negotiations from 18% in December 2023 to 27% in March 2024; despite the increase, this figure is still less than the support for negotiations in the West Bank in September 2022 (32%).

In the Gaza Strip, support increased mostly for peaceful popular resistance from 19% in December 2023 to 27% in March 2024. Support for negotiations was not far behind at 23%.

Overall, changes in support for different methods of achieving a Palestinian State have remained steady in the Gaza Strip, with the only major change in support being a fall in support for armed resistance in March 2024.

In the West Bank, however, opinions on different methods of achieving a Palestinian State have changed rapidly and radically between different surveys.

Support for negotiations, peaceful popular resistance, and armed resistance (32%, 24%, 35%, respectively) shifted from a relatively even split in September 2022 to a peak of support for armed resistance (68%) in December 2023. 

Although, by March 2024, support for armed resistance had fallen to 51%, support for other solutions remained lopsided, with support for peaceful resistance only coming to 12% and negotiations at 27%.





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