The leader of Israel's far-right Herut (Freedom) party intends to visit the Temple Mount in East Jerusalem on Thursday, one day before the Jewish New Year.
Michael Kleiner, Herut's chairman and a member in the Israel parliament (Knesset), petitioned the Supreme Court on Monday to visit the holy site, known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif (Holy Sanctity), Xinhua reported.
On Sept. 29, 2000, then Likud leader Ariel Sharon visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the holy site, triggering the Palestinian Al-Aqsa intifada.
Since the eruption of the intifada, only Muslims have been allowed to visit the site. Kleiner, however, claimed that the Israeli authorities should allow him to visit the Temple Mount because he is an opposition Knesset member as Sharon two years before.
Kleiner's attorney said the parliamentary immunity would entitle Kleiner to visit the site without any obstruction.
Kleiner has already told the authorities he intends to make the trip on September 5 and he wants to know if the police will prevent him from doing so - he says he has yet to get a response. (Albawaba.com)
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