Israel's Internal Security Minister Tzachi Hanegbi restated Tuesday his intention to reopen the Temple Mount, Islam's third holiest site, to Jewish visitors by the end of the week, Israel Radio reported.
Jerusalem police have been preparing for renewed visits of
Jews to the Temple Mount, following Hanegbi’s statement last week that the Temple Mount would open "to
Jews, tourists and non-Muslim pilgrims next week, even if
there is no agreement with the Waqf (Muslim religious Trust)."
For his part, Adnan Al Husseini, manager of the Waqf, had
said the minister's statement was "an unnecessary provocation" and denied there was any agreement between the Waqf and the Israeli police about letting "Christian or Jewish" tourists onto the plaza.
"The waqf is the only authority on the Mount, and it will ultimately decide who can enter and who can leave," he made clear. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
