Likud Ministers and MKs Call to Close Temple Mount to Arabs, Expand Jewish Access

Several ministers and members of the Knesset from the Likud party called for breaking the status quo at the politically sensitive Temple Mount site in Jerusalem during a conference held by the Temple Mount Administration on Wednesday. The event marked "a decade of positive change at the Temple Mount and 59 years since its liberation."

Deputy Knesset Speaker Nissim Vaturi stated at the conference that the Temple Mount should be closed to Arabs until a new status quo is established, where only Jews can freely ascend the site daily. "If we do not ascend freely, no one will ascend," he said. The conference, chaired by Rabbi Shimshon Elboim, reviewed recent changes in Jewish access and prayer rights at the site and advocated for further expansion of these freedoms.

Attending ministers included Eli Cohen, Ze'ev Elkin, and Idit Silman, alongside MKs Boaz Bismuth, Eliyahu Revivo, Moshe Saada, Ariel Kallner, Avichai Boaron, and Amit Halevi. Energy Minister Eli Cohen highlighted that over 60,000 Jews pray annually at the Temple Mount and shared his personal experience leading groups there. Minister Elkin recounted being barred from ascending on Tisha B'Av due to Muslim unrest but returning the next day despite verbal abuse, emphasizing resilience against terror.

Minister Silman praised the Temple Mount Administration's work as "holy work." MK Bismuth called the Elboim family a "beacon for the camp," urging all of Israel to follow their example. MK Saada questioned restrictions on Jewish access during Muslim holidays, blaming legal advisors rather than security forces for the limitations.

The conference underscored a push within the coalition to alter the longstanding arrangements governing the Temple Mount, advocating for exclusive Jewish access and prayer rights at the site.

Summary: Likud ministers and MKs at a Temple Mount Administration event called to close the site to Arabs until Jews can freely ascend, highlighting recent expansions of Jewish prayer rights and criticizing current access restrictions.

Points: - Likud ministers and MKs urge closing Temple Mount to Arabs until exclusive Jewish access is secured. - Deputy Knesset Speaker Vaturi demands a new status quo allowing free Jewish ascent. - Over 60,000 Jews pray annually at the site, per Energy Minister Eli Cohen. - Minister Elkin described overcoming Muslim unrest to ascend the Temple Mount. - MKs blame legal advisors for limiting Jewish access during Muslim holidays. - The event celebrated a decade of increased Jewish presence and prayer rights at the Temple Mount.

Topic: security

Entities: {"people":["Nissim Vaturi","Shimshon Elboim","Eli Cohen","Ze'ev Elkin","Idit Silman","Boaz Bismuth","Eliyahu Revivo","Moshe Saada","Ariel Kallner","Avichai Boaron","Amit Halevi"],"organizations":["Likud","Temple Mount Administration","Knesset"],"places":["Temple Mount","Jerusalem"]}