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 involves charges, from more than a year ago, of interfering with a policeman on duty as Etzion attempted to pray on the Temple Mount. Etzion told Arutz Sheva that although he can be coerced to appear in court, he would not listen to or address the charges against him. \"When the charges are read, I will cover my ears with my hands.\"
In court, Jerusalem Magistrate Romano rejected a request by the state to jail Etzion until the conclusion of the court proceedings. The court accepted Etzion\'s explanation that as long as Jews are barred from praying on the Temple Mount, and the state ignores the ongoing illegal construction by the Muslim Wakf Authority, the case against him today was unjustified. The court called on Etzion to reappear in six weeks. The prosecution objected and announced that an appeal would be filed immediately with the district court.
In court, Jerusalem Magistrate Romano rejected a request by the state to jail Etzion until the conclusion of the court proceedings. The court accepted Etzion\'s explanation that as long as Jews are barred from praying on the Temple Mount, and the state ignores the ongoing illegal construction by the Muslim Wakf Authority, the case against him today was unjustified. The court called on Etzion to reappear in six weeks. The prosecution objected and announced that an appeal would be filed immediately with the district court.