Temple Mount activist Yehuda Etzion was arrested this morning in his Ofra home after he refused to appear for trial in the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court. The case, to be heard by Judge Romano, involves charges brought more than a year ago alleging that Etzion interfered with a policeman on duty as he attempted to pray on the Temple Mount. Etzion told an Arutz Sheva correspondent that although he can be coerced to appear in court, he did not plan to listen to or address the charges against him. \"When the charges are read, I will cover my ears with my hands,\" said Etzion.
The activist explained that he will not play the role of defendant as long as the Temple Mount remains closed to Jewish worshipers. \"By barring Jews from even visiting the Mount over the past year,\" he said, \"the Israeli police are, in effect, assisting the Moslem Waqf Authority in its ongoing efforts to destroy Jewish artifacts on the Mount.\"
The activist explained that he will not play the role of defendant as long as the Temple Mount remains closed to Jewish worshipers. \"By barring Jews from even visiting the Mount over the past year,\" he said, \"the Israeli police are, in effect, assisting the Moslem Waqf Authority in its ongoing efforts to destroy Jewish artifacts on the Mount.\"