[VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]
Arab Members of Knesset were counted among the Muslims shouting at Jews to get off of Har Habayis on Tuesday, 16 Tishrei, the first day of chol hamoed Sukkos in Eretz Yisrael. Minister of Sport Miri Regev was critical of the elected officials, stating they crossed a red line.
MK Jamal Zahalka and MK Abed al-Hakeem Haj Yahya took part in the violence. Zahalka shouted at frum Jews visiting the holy site, compelling police to intervene to maintain order and keep the sides apart. The MK called them “crazy criminals, fascists and Kahanists”, shouting at them to get off Har Habayis. “Go to Hell” he exclaimed as he shouted Jews have no claim to Har Habayis, adding “This is my house”. They both shouted at police, questing how and why they were permitting Jews to visit and accusing them of not caring about offending the religious sensibilities of Muslims.
“You’re letting lunatics in here! You don’t belong here either!” the two exclaimed.
When interviewed by Channel 2 News, Zahalka insists he did not physically assault anyone despite claims to the contrary. He told Channel 2 he was standing and minding his own business when he saw Jews attack al-Aqsa. He added “The occupation is violent…”
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
If I was there, I’d also yell at them to get off.
‘frum’ Jews? All Gedolim prohibit ascending ‘har haBayis’! Even the official Israeli rabanut concurs.
Yet I feel tremendous angst hearing muslims say its theirs, Jews have no claim etc. Maybe Hashem orchestrates these occurences to wake us up and start realizing that Hashem wants to come back home, yet we are all too complacent living in luxury in exile (even in Israel).
Part of the message of Succos is move out of our homes, feel ‘kaviyochol’ Hashems’ pain of exile.
The answer is not to go against Hashem by ascending har haBayit. Rather to daven and improve our thoughts and our actions and merit being part of the generation that witnesses Hashem returning to Zion in mercy.
Are we longing for the time when the last verse of the Haftora (first day Succos) will be fulfilled? End of Zacharia 14, ‘there will be no more Canaanites in the house of Hashem Tzevakos on that day’.
Zionists are very weak, they claim to have won the 67 war yet THEY walk under armed guard while the supposed “losers” the Arabs do as they wish and get to get a salary from the knesset while hating Jews.