Yesterday Rabbi Yehuda Glick, a US-born Israeli and American citizen, was almost assassinated outside the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem by 32-year-old Islamic Jihad member Moataz Hejazi. Hejazi was killed by police at his home after he fired upon them. Glick is currently in serious, but stable condition and he is getting better.
From all accounts I’ve read, Glick has been big campaigner that Jews be allowed to pray at the Temple Mount, which is also the Al-Aqsa compound. Currently all non-Muslim prayer is disallowed at the site.
Because of fear of rioting after killing the Palestinian terrorist, Israel closed the Temple Mount on Thursday which led to the PA calling for a day of rage on Friday.
Instead of letting Israel handle this the way they see fit, Kerry demanded in a statement today that the holy site be reopened to Muslim worshipers:
“The Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount must be re-opened to Muslim worshipers and I support the long-standing practices regarding non-Muslim visitors to the site..”
Because of much pressure on this, Israel has decided to reopen the holy site, but with restrictions:
Micky Rosenfeld, a spokesman for the Israeli police, said the site would be “fully functional and back to normal” on Friday. But he said that men under the age of 50 would not be allowed to enter — a restriction that has often been imposed recently to ward off clashes around the noon prayer. He said police officers would be out in force in the Old City “to make sure that there are no incidents.”
Below is Kerry’s full statement below from the State Dept. website:
I strongly condemn yesterday’s shooting of a U.S. citizen outside the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. The State Department is in touch with authorities as we seek more information.
I am extremely concerned by escalating tensions across Jerusalem and particularly surrounding the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount. It is absolutely critical that all sides exercise restraint, refrain from provocative actions and rhetoric, and preserve the historic status quo on the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount – in word and in practice. The continued commitment by Israelis, Palestinians, and Jordanians to preserve the historic status quo at this holy site is critical; any decisions or actions to change it would be both provocative and dangerous. The Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount must be re-opened to Muslim worshipers and I support the long-standing practices regarding non-Muslim visitors to the site, consistent with respect for the status quo arrangements governing religious observance there.
I am in close touch with senior Israeli, Jordanian, and Palestinian leaders to try to deescalate the situation. I urge the leaders of all three parties to exercise decisive leadership and work cooperatively together to lower tensions and discourage violence, alleviate restrictions on Muslim worshipers, and reinvigorate long-standing coordination mechanisms and relationships that have served over the decades to preserve the historic status quo as it pertains to religious observance and access to the site.