Thousands of Jews arrived this morning at the Western Wall plaza to participate in the traditional Passover \"Birkat Cohanim\" or Priestly Blessing ceremony at the Wall. Later, many of the Jews gathered at the gates of the Temple Mount, and insisted on the right to ascend the Mount to pray there only to find that the gates were locked. Indications that the effort would be unsuccessful were evident early today when Jerusalem Mufti Sheikh Aqrama Tsabari issued a threat to Jews - particularly members and supporters of the Temple Mount Faithful organization - warning that attempts by Jews to pray on the Mount \"would result in widespread Islamic violence.\"
Speaking with Arutz-7 this afternoon, Temple Mount Faithful leader Gershon Solomon expressed his disappointment with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon\'s failure to open the Mount for Jewish worshippers. Solomon said that this was in violation of the Prime Minister\'s prior commitment to instruct security forces to permit Jewish worshippers to ascend the Mount. Solomon also explained that as he approached the entrance to the Temple Mount along with members of his group today, he carried with him a scale model of the Third Temple designed by architects hired by his organization. \"Our message is clear: The Temple Mount never was and never will be a center of Islam. The Beit Hamikdash (Temple) is not some sort of mystical concept, but rather a very real one, a structure that will be re-built in our days..\"
Touring in Judean Hills communities, President Moshe Katzav responded to reporters\' questions on the issue. He opined that the Temple Mount should be opened to Jewish worshippers, but with a caveat - \"that it only be done in coordination with the Muslim Waqf.\"
Speaking with Arutz-7 this afternoon, Temple Mount Faithful leader Gershon Solomon expressed his disappointment with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon\'s failure to open the Mount for Jewish worshippers. Solomon said that this was in violation of the Prime Minister\'s prior commitment to instruct security forces to permit Jewish worshippers to ascend the Mount. Solomon also explained that as he approached the entrance to the Temple Mount along with members of his group today, he carried with him a scale model of the Third Temple designed by architects hired by his organization. \"Our message is clear: The Temple Mount never was and never will be a center of Islam. The Beit Hamikdash (Temple) is not some sort of mystical concept, but rather a very real one, a structure that will be re-built in our days..\"
Touring in Judean Hills communities, President Moshe Katzav responded to reporters\' questions on the issue. He opined that the Temple Mount should be opened to Jewish worshippers, but with a caveat - \"that it only be done in coordination with the Muslim Waqf.\"