Protesting Temple Mount discrimination
Protesting Temple Mount discriminationReturning to the Mount

Dozens of activists from the "Returning to the Mount" organization protested on Sunday evening at the Old City of Jerusalem's Lions Gate, near the Temple Mount, insisting the site be opened to Jews during all hours of the day.

The activists chanted slogans including "Enough with the racism on the Temple Mount!", "Freedom for Jews on the Temple Mount!", and "Remove the Muslim Waqf from the Temple Mount!"

The Jerusalem Waqf office, which is subordinate to the Jordanian Waqf, or Islamic trust, maintains the Temple Mount. The Waqf views the Temple Mount as an Islamic holy site, and declared that the Temple Mount is "for Muslims only." In a statement, the Waqf said it does not recognize the authority of "the Zionist courts."

"Returning to the Mount" CEO Refael Morris said, "This protest expresses Jews' desire, right, and basic demand in their only country: to enter and pray at their holiest site, the Temple Mount. It's time to remove the Waqf and other causes of terror from the Mount, and to immediately apply true Jewish sovereignty."

MK Bezalel Smotrich (Jewish Home) participated in the protest and praised the activists for their determined struggle.

"We must apply complete Jewish sovereignty to the Temple Mount, and begin opening it to Jews, during all hours of the day, as well as allowing Jews to pray on the Temple Mount."

Currently, Jews are only allowed to ascend the Temple Mount during certain hours, and the Temple Mount is closed to Jews every Friday and Saturday. Any act, or suspicion of prayer can lead to arrest.