Jews and Christians Can Now Pray on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem

Palestinians pray in front of the Dome of the Rock on Laylat al-Qadr during the holy month of Ramadan, at the compound that houses Al-Aqsa Mosque, known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount, in Jerusalem’s Old City, May 8, 2021. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

Wait, what? Jews and Christians can pray on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Why is that news?

At the conclusion of the 1967 Six Day War, Israel negotiated a cease fire with the Arab countries that had gone to war against it. A cease fire, not peace. Israelis believed that after the crushing defeat of the Arab armies and loss of vast territory, the Arabs would finally realize that they could not win militarily, and that Israel was a reality to live with, not fight against. Many believed that all that was needed was to negotiate to return the land and the Arabs would make peace. Simple.

While Israel was fully in control of all of Jerusalem – including the Old City which had previously been under Jordanian occupation (and never recognized internationally) – Israel allowed Jordan to retain administrative control of the Temple Mount, with the Hashemite Kingdom serving as custodians of the mosques there. Part of that arrangement prevented non-Moslems, specifically Jews and Christians, from praying on the Temple Mount. This arrangement is referred to as the “status quo” and has governed the access to the Temple Mount in general, and specifically the inability of Jews and Christians to pray there.