Supreme Court Demands Explanation from Ben-Gvir on Temple Mount Saturday Closures

Israel's Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for next Wednesday regarding a petition to open the Temple Mount (Har HaBayit) on Saturdays during the month of Tishrei, which includes the High Holidays. The court has given respondents, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, the police, and the Prime Minister, 48 hours to submit their response.

The petition was filed by Temple Mount activists who argue that the refusal to open the site on Saturdays is based on "extraneous considerations" rather than security concerns. They contend that the current closure violates the long-standing status quo at the holy site.

The petitioners are seeking an interim order to allow Jewish access to the Temple Mount on Saturdays during Tishrei, coinciding with Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, and Shemini Atzeret. They also question the blanket prohibition on non-Muslims entering the site on Saturdays, deeming it discriminatory and contrary to the established status quo.

Activists claim that past violence by Muslim groups at the site was due to the authorities' failure to enforce order, and that this issue has since been resolved. They point to a precedent where the Temple Mount was opened to Jews on a Muslim holiday, suggesting a similar approach is possible for Saturdays.

The petition comes amid an election campaign, placing Minister Ben-Gvir in a position where he must justify his stance on this sensitive issue before the Supreme Court. The petitioners highlight a past Knesset subcommittee recommendation that supported reopening the Temple Mount on Saturdays.