There are changes to the way the police will now be dealing with Jewish visitors to Har HaBayit. I guess this is good, as it lessens the discrimination and the demeaning treatment. they still have a ways to go, but it's a start.
According to the old procedures, when Jews would enter, the police would take us through a series of security checks. They would do a background check, all while we were made to wait outside, on each person ensuring they did not have a blemished record as being deemed a trouble-maker, along with each visitor being recorded and then warned about not praying or any of a variety of religious activities.
After being threatened with a lawsuit to the Supreme Court for the demeaning procedure of recording each Jew attempting to enter Har HaBayit, the police have now agreed to do away with that aspect of the procedure. The claim being that only Jews were being recorded in a discriminatory fashion, while Muslims and tourists were allowed to enter freely. (source: INN)
There is no shortage of discriminatory practices happening against Jews on Har HaBayit, but, as I said, this is a start...
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I had the great pleasure of visiting har habayit for the first time in my life this Pesach.
ReplyDeleteI was able to get by claiming I was from california, and I just had to listen to instructions about not praying and be followed by two police escorts.
I was however told by another person walking with us, where a "nice spot to stop and take pictures" was though :P
I'm sure this will change more and more as time goes on.