Soldiers in the Galei Tzahal Correspondents Course arrived this morning for a tour of the Temple Mount, to learn and get to know flashpoints in the State of Israel more closely. Galei Tzahal is a radio station that is part of the army under authority of the Defense Ministry.
According to journalist and Temple Mount Heritage Foundation member Arnon Segal, participants of the tour were asked to remove their kipppot and, if necessary, wear a hat instead.
In addition, soldiers toured the Temple Mount dressed in civilian clothes, not in IDF uniform.
"It is unfortunate to see once again how a national body that is supposed to represent us all refers to the most sacred place in the world as a Muslim site worth walking around with one's head down and without signs of Jewishness," Segal told Arutz Shava.
He added, "In every other country in the world where Jews were instructed to remove their kippot, Israel would officially protest against it and see it as an anti-Semitic act. And here, the Israel Defense Force's broadcast station instructs its soldiers to go to the most holy place in the world without uniform and without any overt religious symbol."