MK Moshe Gafni of the Ashkenazic-haredi United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party on Thursday turned to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netnayahu, demanding that he prevent MKs and government ministers from ascending the Temple Mount.
"The decision is in your hands," Gafni wrote to Netanyahu. "I hereby turn to you and request that you prevent the ascension to the Temple Mount, both with regards to the diplomatic issue...and with regards to the matter of security and the incitement that exists because of it, especially in the Muslim world but not only there, and especially since there is no reason for this - it does not show sovereignty."
"To the contrary: It represents a desecration of what is holy, in the place that is most connected to the Jewish People and which is holiest for them," Gafni said.
The Otzma Yehudit party responded by saying that Gafni "is invited to quit the coalition."
"Everyone will know whose fault it is that the fully right-wing government fell," the party added.