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| By Associated Press January 19, 2005 |
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| Look but don't touch. Religious Jewish boy looks toward the Mount. (AP) |
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Israel's top rabbis have issued a religious ruling forbidding Jews from entering Jerusalem's Temple Mount compound, a rabbi said Tuesday, a decision that could ease tensions at the disputed holy site.
The mount, known to Muslims as Haram a Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary, is one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The al Aqsa mosque compound, Islam's third-holiest site, is built atop the ruins of the biblical Jewish Temples, Judaism's holiest site. Israeli security officials have expressed fears in recent months that Jewish extremists might try to attack the compound.
Shmuel Rabinovitz, chief rabbi of the Western Wall, one of the holiest Jewish sites located adjacent to the mount, said the prohibition on entering the compound was meant to prevent desecration of the site by a growing number of Jewish visitors. He called the decision a religious matter, not a security issue, but added that he hopes the announcement will prevent possible violence.
"This comes in response to greater numbers of Jews going up to visit the mount," Rabinovitz said. "There is a prohibition against attacking the area and it is a great prohibition. If this (ruling) will influence this, it is a very, very good thing."
He said the ruling was signed by Israel's two chief rabbis and 21 other leading rabbis, including those affiliated with the National Religious Party. The NRP represents the Jewish settler movement in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Israeli security commanders fear that extremist settlers and their sympathizers could attack the mosque compound to derail the government's plan to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the West Bank this summer. Settler groups oppose the plan and have launched a nationwide campaign to derail it.
Rabinovitz said the rabbinical ruling reiterated an earlier decision issued after the 1967 Mideast War, when Israel took over east Jerusalem and its holy sites.
The rabbis believe that Jews may not step on the area of the temples to prevent their possible desecration. Only once the messiah has come and Jews are purified will they be able to enter the area, he said.
Since it is not clear exactly where the temples were located, Jews are not allowed anywhere on the mount, Rabinovitz said. A sign forbidding Jews from entering the mosque compound has been posted at the entrance through which Israelis are permitted to enter, he added.
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