A discussion has resumed among elected officials if the ban against Members of Knesset and cabinet ministers visiting Har Habayis should be lifted. MK Moshe Gafne sent his opinion to PM Binyamin Netanyahu, explaining permitting them to return to the holy site would compromise security and he remains opposed. Gafne told Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) that while Israel Police may be capable of protecting Har Habayis, the police may not decide policy and that is what must be done here. He explained the decision to implement the ban was the result of damage done to Israel in the international community, adding “We are all aware of what has occurred because of politicians visiting Har Habayis”.

Gafne added that due to the sanctity of the site we may not visit since this leads to transgressions that are most severe from a halachic perspective. “The security issue and the political one have all done up in smoke as soon as I said not going to Har Habayis is tied to issues of sovereignty. In fact, it shows we the Jewish People attach the most importance to this site by not going”.

MK (Bayit Yehudi) Shuli Muallem feels that with MKs like Gafne, Israel needn’t be concerned with UNESCO decisions. “While we have MKs like Gafne to tell us that we compromise Islamic sites by going to Har Habayis we don’t need UNESCO. We have a true halachic matter here and there are poskim that rule both ways”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)