The New Jewish Congress, a union of Jewish movements, sent a public letter to the government Tuesday warning that the continuation of the government's present policy regarding the Temple Mount would lead to an uncontrollable "severe downspin" in the security and political situation, threatening "the very existence of the people of Israel and the Jewish state."
The letter refers specifically to the government's decision to allow Hamas to broadcast incitement from the Temple Mount on the Jewish fast day of Tevet Tenth. "During the course of this horrible broadcast, incitement to violence and calls of death to Jews emanated from the Temple Mount, location of the Holy Temple," the group noted, "[and] on this important day on the Jewish calendar, the Temple Mount was closed to Jews. We view these events as a horrific failure of this government."
The Jewish people should have access to pray on the Temple Mount on certain days on the Jewish calendar, the group added. These include the Three Pilgrimage Festivals of Israel, the eve of Passover, Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, the first day of Chanukah, the Three Fast Days of the 10th of Tevet, the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av, Israel Independence Day and Jerusalem Day, and the Hakhel Ceremony at the conclusion of the Sabbatical Year.
The letter ends with a warning note: "If you do not accept our appeal and demand, we shall understand that the chasm separating the Jewish people – the Jewish people whose values have remained unchanged since time immemorial – and the current composition of the Government of Israel, as reflected by its policies – is immeasurably widening and deepening with each passing day. The Government of Israel is essentially responsible for any political or military repercussions."