On video: Ben Gvir ascended the Temple Mount: "This is the place where we need to return and show governance"/Temple Mount Administration
Itamar Ben Gvir is the most senior political figure in Israel who is associated with the Jewish ascension to the Temple Mount.
When he entered the office of the Minister of National Security and received - in practice - the keys to the Mount and the ability to decide on an issue that is so close to his heart, it was an almost certain bet that he would "bring about a revolution" in the fight for the equality of prayer on the Temple Mount, as the believers believe.
But a year has passed since he entered the office and no revolution is in sight, and perhaps just the opposite.
In 2023, the number of immigrants to the Temple Mount decreased, for the first time in a decade (without corona closures).
According to the "In our hands - for the sake of the Temple Mount" movement, in 2021 the number of Jews who ascended the Temple Mount was 34,651.
However, in 2022, the year the Bennett-Lapid government was in office, the number of immigrants jumped to 51,483.
Precisely in 2023, when Ben Gabir was already in office, the number of Jewish immigrants to the Temple Mount dropped to 50,098.
On the other hand, the number of those detained and arrested among those who want to visit the mountain - actually doubled (last year - 141, this year - 317).
According to the data of the "Bidino" organization, the number of those removed by administrative order also increased by dozens of percent: in 2021, 57 worshipers were removed, in 2022, 52 were removed, and under Minister Ben Gabir - 85. A
special investigation by Walla!
conducted over the last few months reveals what is happening below the surface in the struggle for the Temple Mount: Minister Ben Gabir's old supporters have become sworn enemies, his close circle (including his wife) - has become part of the Temple Mount's executive committee despite the lack of agreement between the aliya organizations (without an appointment) official), but with VIP rights and an absurd number of indictments and lawsuits against those who hinder the minister from establishing peace on the mountain.
Ben Gvir with Shimshon Elboim at the Temple Mount/official website, Temple Mount Administration
The woman next to him and the speaker's father
Activists of Jewish immigration to the Temple Mount have been waging a persistent struggle against the police and the state for decades in order for them to receive the right to ascend and pray on the territory of the Mount.
Over the years, the activists try to stretch the boundaries of the status quo inside the mountain - both in settlements with the law authorities and in creative and provocative ways such as distributing donuts, sitting in a "learning circle" while touring the mountain and even impersonating Muslims and entering through the various gates - and this is only the tip of the iceberg.
The struggle between the police and the immigrants stretched over many years and knew ups and downs.
The immigrants established themselves under a number of immigration bodies: "The Temple Mount Administration", "The Organization of the Temple Mount Immigrants" and "In our hands - for the sake of the Temple Mount".
But in the middle of the last decade, during a very tense period between the parties, voila!
It was learned that in an unusual step - the police decided to organize below the surface, a limited team of immigrants through whom they could negotiate and coordinate the dates and nature of the immigration.
Despite sweeping denials over the years regarding the involvement of the police in the civilian team, in a document obtained by Walla!
The legal advisor of the Jerusalem Police refers to the issue of Jews going up to the Temple Mount on the Holy Day a few years ago and admits that the organization had a hand in establishing a civilian steering team: "The commander of Merhav David held many meetings and coordination talks with a steering team on behalf of the Jewish visitors to the Temple Mount, which was established by him." Wrote.
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An official document of the legal advisor of the Jerusalem Police regarding the ascension of Jews to the Temple Mount/official website, no
Initially, the steering team in question was made up of a number of immigrants to the Temple Mount, some of whom were accused over the years by the immigrant community of being "planters" of the law authorities.
Also in the steering team - Shimson Elboim is also considered the team's chairman and heads the "Joint Headquarters of the Temple Mount Organizations" - and later also Haim Elboim's father, Minister Ben Gabir's spokesman. Ben Gabir was still an enthusiastic activist in favor of the "provocative" aliya acts. to the Temple Mount and the sacrifice of the victims on the mountain. His wife Ila also soon became an integral part of the struggle. But when Ben Gabir entered the Knesset for the first time in 2021, Ila Ben Gabir, who led a hawkish line against cooperation with the police - became a central part of the steering team.
Later, the steering team " The Independent" was registered as an independent association and was given the name 'The Temple Mount Administration' with Y', as opposed to the body that audits the conduct of the police and is called, as mentioned, the Temple Mount Administration. However, although it was established to ensure adequate representation of the immigrants in front of the police, it actually cooperates with it fully - Even though it was never officially regulated or anchored in legislation and even though no consensus was ever formed about their status among the immigrants.
Jews on the Temple Mount/Yenon Shalom Yathach, no
According to evidence accumulated in the investigation, among the benefits that the steering team and their people receive:
VIP entrance to the Temple Mount without queuing.
Escorting members of the Knesset and ministers into the mountain area without queuing - compared to other activists who have to wait in line with the members of the Knesset.
Climbing during the hours when the mountain is closed and holding official ceremonies in the complex such as the lighting of Hanukkah candles that happened outside of opening hours.
Regular update of the administration personnel on police decisions on changes in the opening and closing arrangements of the mountain.
On some special occasions, the Temple Mount administration even placed its own security guards alongside the police to help maintain order in the queues.
Ila Ben Gabir/Reuven Castro
Donut indictment
During the year 2023, the police prosecution unit submitted indictments against a long list of prominent activists in the Jewish ascension to the Temple Mount.
This is after they were arrested in and around the mountain area for behavior that could violate public peace and obstructing a police officer in the performance of his duty.
The fact that some of the defendants are factors that criticize the functioning of the police quite a bit and some of the aliyah organizations associated with minister Ben Gabir led to harassment by the law enforcement authorities to the point of actual persecution.
For example, during the month of July 2023, indictments were filed against former member of the Knesset Yehuda Glick, the chairman of the "Bidno for the Temple Mount" movement Tom Nissani and Emanuel Brosh, a long-time activist on the ascent to the Temple Mount, for interfering with a police officer in the performance of his duties and for behavior that could violate public peace. According to the indictment, during the month of September 2021, Glick, Nissani and Brosh went up to the Temple Mount together with a group of Jews. Upon entering the compound, the two disobeyed the instructions of the police officers who asked them to move at the pace of the accompanying policeman and with the group that went up the Mount. "The defendants walked slowly, stopping at every moment, They took pictures on the spot, despite the warnings of the policeman who accompanied the group," the indictment reads. Later, Glick broke away from the group and even tried to climb the Dome of the Rock, but the policemen ordered him to return to the group's path, and he replied in response to one of them, "I pay you a salary, I am your master."
Commissioner Shabtai and Shin Bet chief Argaman next to Shimshon Elboim (left)/Official website, Temple Mount Administration
Another charge describes that Nisni and Brosh sat in the entrance way at the Mogravim gate, facing each other "in a way that hindered passers-by in the place from passing freely by being forced to pass over and between them. Police officers who were at the scene demanded the defendants repeatedly vacate the place, but the defendants refused and continued to sit in the passage."
It is further attributed to Nisani that during the Hanukkah holiday in 2022 he arrived with donuts for the security check, was asked by the police to take them out and began to argue with them.
Later, he returned to the place with stickers on it with the inscription "Do not enter the Temple Mount", and in view of the aforementioned, caused a delay in the entry of visitors at the checkpoint.
Another indictment was filed about a month later in August 2023, this time against Temple Mount activist Israel Elitzur for violating a legal order and obstructing a police officer in the performance of his duties.
This is after he violated an order to stay away from the Temple Mount area, he arrived with his toddler son at one of the gates surrounding the Mount, where he met a policeman who asked him to leave the place and he replied: "I will enter the Temple Mount and set the place on fire."
After that he continued on his way to another gate in the mountain until he received an invitation for further investigation.
Earlier that year, an indictment was filed against 3 young Jews from Judea and Samaria for behavior that could violate public peace and obstructing a police officer in the performance of his duties after they climbed a fence near the Mogravim gate despite the instructions of the local police officers not to enter the Temple Mount area and as a result were forcibly removed from the fences by the local police officers.
Ben Gvir with Haim Elboim who served as his spokesman (archive)/official website, no
Former member of the Knesset Yehuda Glick, an activist on the Temple Mount and a guide for immigrant groups who is accused of two indictments these days says in a conversation with Walla!: "The cases were filed against me in the last year for incidents from years past. These are two incidents for which the police have already punished me, removed me from the Temple Mount for several months And suddenly they decided to file indictments as well. Why did they remember now? And I didn't hear that an indictment was being filed against a person who walked slowly. In addition, I have a recording of a police officer telling me that he is going to arrest me because I am not giving the police enough support."
Yehuda Glick/Reuven Castro
The change that did not come
With Ben Gvir's entry into the position of Minister of National Security, the steering team was especially felt as mentioned.
Activists who spoke with Walla!
There are reports of a major change in the minister's attitude towards them and the issue, and this is manifested in the lack of response to handling the problems, in the unqualified backing of the police regardless of the claims and the almost immediate transfer of the problems that arise to his wife "who will take care of things", according to the evidence.
"Everything remains exactly the same, there are still harassments, disturbances and arrests. The essential difference is that Ben Gvir backs up the policemen, a situation has arisen where he protects the policemen more than I imagined," shared the well-known Temple Mount activist Tom Nissani.
"Before, we had an address to come and complain. Here, if we go to him, he straight up says, 'My wife is a member of the administration', 'The district commander is amazing'. That's the main thing, not in the position of criticizing them at all."
According to Nisni, the hostility was also felt during the term of Minister Bar-Lev, but there is great disappointment when it comes to an elected official, who was chosen among other things by the votes of the Jewish immigrants to the Temple Mount who were waiting for a change: "We waited for whoever replaced him, then whoever replaced him from ours - and it remains the same. He never came to check what was going on. He knows about people who give him information and he just ignores it. Before the elections, he talked about equality in prayer, today he tries to run away from this issue because politically it serves him."
Tom Nisni/courtesy of those photographed
Glick also describes similar things.
"When I turn to Ben Gabir, he directs me to his wife, Ila. When I talk to her, she tells me how much effort the police are making and how perfect the police are," clarified Glick.
"At the time I was the initiator of the establishment of the 'Temple Mount Administration', I told the police that there would be a body that would mediate between the police and the pilgrims to the mountain, I never imagined in my wildest dreams that this body would be busy all day talking to the police, besides the police spokesmen they have other spokesmen. I was shocked."
Glick also describes what happened after a month ago an ad was published in all newspapers on behalf of the administration which read: "Many thanks to Minister Ben Gabir for the dramatic change on the Temple Mount."
"I called Samson (Elboim - the chairman of the administration) and said to him: 'Tell me about one change in Har since Ben Gvir was appointed,'" Glick asked Elboim. How wonderful the minister is.
Besides North Korea, do you know of another place where this could happen?
It's shameful.
To come and tell the world what revolution we made - no revolution was made.
The reality remains bad."
Even Nisani, who was very close to Ayla Ben Gabir in the struggle for prayer under the "Students for the Temple Mount" organization, benevolently criticizes the current situation: "What is most infuriating is this nepotism.
You don't have to be a big conspirator to understand that there is a body that has risen to suppress the struggle for rights.
There is a very obvious conflict of interest there involving public money and the police who decided to appoint four people, to mix them up within the police and government offices." "
I have a theory that the police can't get into meat, so it's easier for them to get into guys who are easy to get into," claims the former Knesset member Glick. "There is no doubt that anyone who belongs to the so-called 'Temple Mount Administration' and works in coordination with the police receives preferential treatment.
I do support the police most of the time, I have no problem with that.
The problem is that the police want wall-to-wall paragon and should not be criticized.
They think they are the masters of the land."
Shimshon Elboim with Jerusalem district commander Doron Turgeman/official website, Temple Mount Administration
"The positive turning point on the Temple Mount".
The ad glorifying Ben Gabir/documentation on social networks according to Section 27 A of the Copyright Law
Comments
The office of the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, responded:
"The days of Christ have come - the media is interested in the conditions of the Jewish Temple Mount immigrants, in the eyes of Minister Ben Gvir, this is extremely exciting, we would be happy if you continue to monitor the situation that is improving for the benefit of the Temple Mount immigrants. To the point of things, since his entry of Minister Itamar Ben Gabir to the position of Minister of National Security, there is a significant improvement in relation to the pilgrims to the Temple Mount, during the times of the aliya, in the freedom of movement and the freedom of expression on the Mount, the police come towards the aliyam, both at the aliyas themselves which are calmer, and towards the aliya. Likewise, in terms of the handling of rioters and radical Arab elements, The conduct of the police improved, with a determined policy, with uncompromising enforcement, which led to a period of complete silence on the Temple Mount and the eradication of acts of incitement, even after the outbreak of the Iron Swords War until now, this is partly also due to a significant increase in the expulsion of Muslim rioters and instigators, which leads to countless complaints from The instigators, but even on the Temple Mount, rule begins."
As for the administration issue, the minister's office responded: "This is a representation of the Temple Mount immigrants that the police have been working with for about a decade, as they work with every community and public. All police officials see this dialogue as a strategic goal that is also effective in improving service to the immigrant community, every complaint is taken seriously by them head and receives attention and treatment. The Temple Mount administration, which works with the police in a respectable manner, has had many successes in promoting the Temple Mount on the ground and in public relations with the Temple Mount, and therefore the minister also deems it appropriate to sit down with them. It is important to know that there are many decisions that require cabinet decisions and are not the full responsibility of the minister Ben Gabvir. If it were up to Meath Ben Gabir, the Temple Mount would be opened 24/7 to Jews. They would not be discriminated against and the Israeli flag would be flying on the mountain. However, unfortunately for the minister, all these require cabinet decisions and he does not have a majority in this forum."
The Israel Police responded:
"The Israel Police works to maintain security and public order in the holy places in Jerusalem in general and the Temple Mount in particular. Visits to the Temple Mount are possible on the days and hours of the visit for any person, in accordance with the rules for visiting the place and in accordance with the decisions of the political level and the existing practice. The visits are carried out in the manner intended Allow for a normal visiting routine and adequate security. Cases where there are violations of the rules or provocations by visitors who do not listen to the police - the police are required to act in order to stop them, stop the visit, remove that person and/or detain him for investigation. The amount of enforcement and removals is a result of the amount The violations of the rules of visiting and public order at the place. It should be emphasized that there is no change in the practice that has existed at this place for many years, as was also determined by the political echelon and was also reflected in many judicial decisions over the years and there is no prioritization of one visitor or another. We regret giving a platform to ungrateful visitors and experience of parties with foreign and improper interests, time after time, to discredit and castigate the police activities in the area, which are carried out impartially, in order to allow the visits to take place in order."
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The Temple Mount
Itamar Ben Gabir
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Yehuda Glick