07/04/2006
 
 
Groups plan Tisha B'Av protest on Jerusalem's Temple Mount
 
By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/734488.html
 
 

Temple Mount devotees are planning a mass pilgrimage of Jews to the Temple Mount on Tisha B'Av, the fast day commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples.

Activists chose the date, which falls on August 3, since they assume that the tens of thousands of worshipers who annually visit the Western Wall on the fast day will make it hard for police to close Jerusalem's Old City.

The activists also plan to increase Temple Mount pilgrimages during bein hametzarim - the period between the 17th of Tammuz fast day, which falls on July 13, and Tisha B'Av. Group leaders are planning a Temple Mount pilgrimage on July 16, followed the next day by a march of judges belonging to the "new Sanhedrin."

Group leaders also decided at a recent meeting to counter police violations of the rights of Temple Mount pilgrims by filing a lawsuit in Jerusalem's Small Claims Court. They also decided to hold a march once a month from somewhere in the capital toward the Temple Mount. The parades will take place at night with torches, a cart bearing a model of the altar, sheep, cohanim (priests), temple tools, and related items. The initial march is planned for August 9.

While visits - but not prayer services - are allowed, the police restrict the number of activists to the Temple Mount