MKs vow to 'legitimise' Jewish prayer in Al-Aqsa

After the formation of the new Israeli government last month, the calls for granting Jews the “right” to pray in Al-Aqsa Mosque have returned.

Likud Member of the Knesset Zohar Makhlouf and Jewish Home MK Yanon Migal called for holding an emergency meeting of the Knesset Interior Committee on Tuesday to discuss what they called “the discrimination and oppression against Jews at Temple Mount.”

This demand was made after Migal called for the permanent dismissal of those sitting-in at Al-Aqsa Mosque last week and granting Jews the “right” to pray and worship there.

The response to these calls came quickly, as Gilad Erdan, minister of public security, vowed to do all he can to “preserve the freedom of practicing Jewish religious acts in Al-Aqsa.”

On his part, Jamil Hamami, member of the Supreme Islamic Council in Jerusalem, said that these statements reflect the state of the current government, which does not give any weight to religious freedom and violates and attacks Muslim and Christian places of worship.

He also added that with these statements made by members of the Israeli government are playing with fire and dragging the area into an unstable state. He said this was especially true because we are approaching the month of Ramadan. Hamami also pointed out the danger of the Israeli government’s sponsoring of settler activities in Al-Aqsa Mosque.

He predicted that the current government will commit the same foolish acts as the previous government, including more intense extremism and arrogance than before. He called on the Palestinians in Jerusalem and in the occupied Palestinian territories to intensify their presence at Al-Aqsa Mosque in order to stress their right to it.

He also urged the international community to carry out its responsibility of deterring those violating places of worship.