Following early morning consultations by the Jerusalem police department, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City was opened again today (Wednesday) to Jewish, and other non-Moslem, visitors. Today's opening was planned prior to yesterdays bombing, following nearly three weeks that the holy site has been closed to non-Moslems.
In reaction to assessments that the opening of the Temple Mount was the result of negotiations between the Islamic religious authorities at the site, the Wakf, and Israeli police, Knesset member Uri Ariel (National Union) commented: "We should not have waited for the permission of the Wakf to open the Temple Mount, just as we need no permission to live in our land. We live here by right, not by grace."
MK Ariel made the statements to Arutz-7 correspondent Tamar Leshem during a tour of the Arutz-7 studios this morning. Ariel was accompanied by MK Ehud Yatom (Likud).
Wakf spokesmen and mufti of the mosques located on the Mount denied that the decision to open the site before non-Moslem visitors was made in coordination with them. They objected, they noted, to Jews being allowed on the Temple Mount.