Riots on the Temple Mount
Riots on the Temple MountReuters

A personal claim of NIS 30,000 was filed against a Waqf employee on the Temple Mount for attacking a Jew and kicking him in the stomach.

The Jewish man had participated in a visit to the Temple Mount six months ago. During his visit to the holiest site in Judaism, the man bowed.

The police arrested the man for exercising his freedom of religion. As he was put in handcuffs, the Waqf employee approached him and kicked him in the stomach.

The kick was recorded on video by another one of the visitors on the tour. The Waqf employee, a resident of the a-Tur neighborhood in Jerusalem was arrested by the police on the spot.

The lawsuit was filed by attorney Haim Bleicher of the Honenu legal organization.

Bleicher explained that the Waqf employees have no authority over the Jewish visitors Temple Mount, and certainly have no right to assault and physically abuse them. He argued that if the Waqf employees have an issue with a Jewish visitor, they must report it to the police and not become involved themselves.

The suit was filed in the Magistrate's Court in Jerusalem for humiliation and injury to the plaintiff and for the Waqf employee's role in the humiliation and and intimidation of Jewish visitors to the Temple Mount.