MK Yomtob Kalfon (Yamina) was among the Jews ascending to the Temple Mount on Thursday, Independence Day, after the site was reopened to Jews after being closed for 14 days at the conclusion of Ramadan, as is the established practice for past years.
"Here we are on the Temple Mount, on Independence Day, at the holiest place in the world, where the Kodesh Hakadoshim is situated," Kalfon said. "It's so important that we are able to ascend here; it's an immense privilege that we have earned. I wish to thank everyone who worked to have the Mount opened to Jews today."
As Kalfon entered the Temple Mount plaza, someone shouted out, "History will not forget you for sitting in government with Arabs, for submitting to Hamas."
Later in the morning, several Jews who had ascended to the Temple Mount began singing the national anthem "Hatikvah" and were asked to stop singing.
One of the group also took out a small Israeli flag and waved it. The flag was immediately confiscated by one of the policemen who had secured the group.
Despite the large numbers of Jews waiting outside the plaza to access the Temple Mount, police only allowed small groups to enter, one at a time.
MK Itamar Ben Gvir, head of the Otzma Yehudit party, commented: "There's no reason for the police to grant entry only to small groups at a time. Everyone waiting to enter should be allowed to do so. It's time we established a synagogue on the Temple Mount and stopped submitting to terrorism. On Israel's 74th Independence Day, it's important for the members of our government to recall that we are actually an independent country."