MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism), Chairman of the Knesset’s Finance Committee, on Wednesday blasted Jewish visits to the Temple Mount, claiming that Jews who ascended to the holy site were violating Jewish religious law. Speaking to Israel Radio , Gafni argued that religious Jews who visited the Temple Mount were leading the country to war, comparing them to the Zealots who rebelled against the Roman occupation during the Second Temple period. “The Gemara labeled them thugs, while Rashi called them empty [people] who recklessly [led the country] into war.” Gafni went on to say that Israel was in sovereign control of Jerusalem and Jewish visits to the Temple Mount were “a stupid provocation” which causes immeasurable damage to Israel.
