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Israel’s Supreme Court: Temple Mount metal detectors for Jews only

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Israel’s Supreme Court rejected an appeal to remove metal detectors located only at the Temple Mount entrance used by Jews. 

By World Israel News Staff

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court unanimously rejected an appeal from Otzma Yehudit, a right-wing party, against the decision to place metal detectors only at the entrance where Jews enter the Temple Mount, Ma’ariv reported today.

Attorney for the appellant, Itamar Ben Gavir, wrote in the appeal that the current situation, “unlawfully infringes upon the equality of Jewish visitors and tourists – the use of a metal detector is used in their inspection at the Temple Mount entrance, but among Muslims the inspection does not include the use of a metal detector.”

The attorney also said that the situation is racist as it favors Arabs and Muslims over Jews, while it is the former that carry out terror attacks, Ma’ariv reported. The attorney called for the removal of the metal detectors.

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Esther Hayut wrote in the decision, “We are convinced that the difference in the inspection methods is justified in order to maintain security and ensure arrangement of the visitors to the compound. Therefore, we reason that despite the difference in the means of inspection at the different gates, judgment by the police in this matter appears reasonable and within the  framework of the authority vested in it by the police ordinance, and therefore we found no reason to intervene. ”

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The decision continues, “It should be remembered that the right to worship and the ritual of Jewish worshipers  who enter through the Mugrabi Gate is not harmed.”

Ma’ariv reports that Hayut’s claim is “surprising,” given that the police, with the court’s backing, forbid any acts of prayer, blessing, or religious activity by Jews on the Temple Mount.

In July, 2017, Israel briefly placed metal detectors at entrances to the Temple Mount used by Arabs following a terrorist attack in which two Israeli police officers were shot and killed. After political pressure, the government removed them.