Temple Mount Activists Petition High Court for Jewish Access on Shabbat

Temple Mount activists petitioned the High Court against National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, asking that Jews be allowed to access the holy site on Shabbat. The petitioners said there is no justification for continuing to close the Mount on Saturdays and alleged that the refusal rests on considerations unrelated to security. The report said the state must respond to the petition. The filing followed calls by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and MK Amit Halevi at a conference the previous week for a policy change. Leading Torah authorities have long opposed Jewish ascent to the Temple Mount because of the severe halakhic prohibition.