Israel High Court rules that the "Temple Mount Faithful" group can visit Temple Mount on Tisha B'Av

By Haaretz Correspondent and Itim, By Jonathan Lis 2nd August

The High Court of Justice ruled yesterday that the Temple Mount Faithful can visit the mount on Tisha B'Av, which falls tomorrow. This festival commemorates the historical destruction of both temples.
A panel of three justices, headed by Miriam Naor, imposed restrictions on the visit: movement members will be allowed to visit only during public visiting hours -- one hour in the morning and another hour at noon; they cannot carry signs, wear special apparel, behave provocatively, or stand out in any way.

The court also banned the movement's leader, Gershon Solomon, from visiting the Temple Mount so as not to unnecessarily provoke Muslim worshipers, but permitted him to be present at the Western Wall plaza tomorrow.

"We are adding and clarifying on our own accord that if the restrictions are violated, the police are authorized to revoke the permit, assuming that any authority exercised is in good faith," the justices stated.

The plans of several Temple Mount movements for a mass pilgrimage on Tisha B'Av may come crashing down to reality: Tisha B'Av, exactly like other holy days, is considered a sensitive time, and the mount is usually closed to visitors on such days since there often is intelligence information regarding the intention by various elements, Jews and Muslims, to disrupt the peace and inflame tempers. No such information has been received thus far, so Jerusalem police are readying, with beefed-up forces, to enable the mass prayer service at the Western Wall plaza.

In keeping with the High Court ruling, the police are also expected to open the Temple Mount area to visitors during visiting hours, while banning prayer there.

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Islamic Movement appeals - please stop Jewish groups from visiting Temple Mount on Thursday

By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent 3rd August

The Islamic Movement warned Wednesday against the possibility that Jewish groups would try to reach the Temple Mount on Thursday (The Ninth of Av) and damage the Al Aqsa Mosque.

The group's warning follows a Supreme Court decision made earlier this week, ordering police to allow whoever wants to visit the Temple Mount during regular visiting hours on the Ninth of Av.

Jan Roberts - this article does not mention that the leader of the Israeli group given access was himself banned by the Court from going to the Mosque as a potential trouble maker -and the Jewish visitors are ordered not to carry banners. In other words, the Court knows that it is potentially allowing a dangerous action.

Two MKs from the Islamic Movement, Sheikh Ibrahim Sarsur (Ra'am-Ta'al) and Sheikh Abbas Zkoor (Ra'am-Ta'al) sent an urgent letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, requesting that the government prevent members of the Temple Mount Faithful from reaching the area outside the Al Aqsa Mosque. "Extremist Jewish groups may damage the Al Aqsa Mosque. If this were to happen, heaven forbid, it would inflame the region," the MKs wrote.

The Islamic Movement's Northern Branch also warned of what could take place Thursday in the vicinity of the Temple Mount. The head of the movement, Sheikh Raed Selah, said in a radio interview that the Supreme Court does not have the authority to rule on the matter.

According to Selah, "The Supreme Court isn't worthy of deciding on matters pertaining to the Al Aqsa Mosque, because Israel does not have sovereignty over it. Selah called on Islamic Movement supporters to reach the Al Aqsa Mosque on Thursday.