Tensions were high this morning with hundreds of extremist Muslims going into Al Aksa and barricading themselves inside, remaining after the permitted time and refusing to leave. When the police got involved, it raised general tensions even more and rockets were shot from Gaza into Israel, supposedly in retaliation for Israel's attack on the Temple Mount.
In an attempt to calm the situation, and especially the angry foreign countries like Jordan, Egypt and others, PM Netanyahu said, after explaining what happened and how Israel responded carefully in order to allow prayers to continue and Muslim worshippers to be able to pray, "Israel is committed to safeguarding the freedom of worship, the free access for all religions and the status quo on Har Habayit, and will not allow violent extremists to change that".
I am in favor of his attempt to calm things down but I do find it ironic for him to talk publicly about free access to all religions, freedom of worship, and all that jazz the same day they have been arresting Jewish activists for trying to worship the Pesach holiday on Har Habayit the way the Torah mandates. And of course the regular prevention of Jews ascending Har Habayit to pray or do any noticeably religious activity..
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