Avi Dichter
Avi DichterYonatan Sindel/Flash 90

The Knesset plenum approved Monday the extension of the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Order (Temporary Order) by 57 to 16.

The Chairman of the Joint Committee to Discuss the Extension of the Validity of the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law, MK Avi Dichter (Likud), said that "there were times when there was no problem. Does anyone remember that the Gaza Strip did not have a checkpoint? In 1982, after the peace treaty with Egypt, you could drive from Rosh Hanikra to El Arish without seeing a checkpoint."

"But in 1984, dispicable terrorists hijacked a bus - line 300 - to negotiate the release of terrorists from prison. And then a checkpoint was set up at the entrance to the Gaza Strip," Dichter said.

He said that when dealing with security, it is necessary to examine whether legislation is really necessary. "The facts support leaving this law in place for another year. But to come and say that the security situation has changed and a wolf is living with a lamb and you can open everything?Unfortunately, no. When you want to protect [civilians], you protect in any way that the law allows you."

During the hearing, MK Talab Abu Arar referred to the call of Major General Yoram Halevy, the Jerusalem police chief, to go up to the Temple Mount. Abu Arar said that "this law and other racist laws were a reason for the intifada that broke out in this country, for an uprising. And in addition to this racist legislation is the policy taken against the Al-Aqsa Mosque."

"The Al-Aqsa Mosque, I am telling everyone - right, left, center - to all the Jews here and around the world - the Al-Aqsa Mosque is exclusively for Muslims ... No one has a right to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. I was very surprised that a person who represents the state in a position of responsibility, the the commander of the Jerusalem district, would say ''I call upon the Jews to go to the Al-Aqsa Mosque." Al-Aqsa Mosque is not for you and for those who appointed you."

MK Dichter slammed Abu Arar for his call to ban Jews from the Temple Mount, and noted that Gen. Halevy called on Jews to ascend the Temple Mount, not to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

"Sir, this is a statement that anyone who knows the sensitivities on the Temple Mount knows exactly what he meant. The attempt to take the Temple Mount and call it Al Aqsa will not pass me or the State of Israel. Al Haram al Sharif - Temple Mount is not Aqsa!

"I know this tactic. Your goal is to take the name 'Al Aqsa' and put it on the entire Temple Mount, to make it to be like Mecca and Medina. Because whoever is allowed to enter Mecca and Medina is only a Muslim. The sign says 'Muslims only' - and all the others to the right. This move [of yours], MK Abu 'Arar, to try to put the' Al Aqsa 'sign on the entire Temple Mount - forget it! "