Tensions Remain High Following Terrorism on the Temple Mount

Early in the morning on Friday, July 14th, three terrorists entered the Lion’s Gate of the Old City in Jerusalem and opened fire, killing two Israeli Druze (Arabs – not Jews) police officers and wounding another. The Israeli Arab terrorists fled to the Temple Mount to find asylum in their mosque, but were shot and killed by Israeli police. Al-Jazeera news twisted their reports and said that three Arabs were murdered at the Muslims' most holy site – the Temple Mount.

Israeli police shut down the entrance to the Mount for several days for a thorough investigation and then installed metal detectors and cameras at all the entrances. As a result, Jihadists have accused Israel of infringing on Muslim sovereignty, and Islamic authorities in Jerusalem are advising their followers to avoid entering the site. This has sparked protests from Muslims against the security measures.

For years, all Christians (and non-Muslims) have been screened with metal detectors before entering the Temple Mount. Why shouldn’t everyone be screened for the safety of all? The Temple Mount has been deemed a sacred place for three religions – Jews, Christians and Muslims. Isaiah 56:7 states that this holy site is “a house of prayer for all the peoples.”  Everyone should be allowed to freely pray and worship there. Even when Jewish people come to the Temple Mount, they are heckled by paid Arab women, and Islamic authorities will not allow a Jew to pray.

The following Shabbat (Friday evening), a Jeweish family in Samaria sat down for a dinner, celebrating the birth of a grandchild, when a terrorist in the area walked into their home, murdering the grandfather, grandmother and son (leaving the mother and five children). An off-duty officer heard the screaming and neutralized the terrorists, who is now recovering in an Israeli hospital. His Facebook page told his story...all he had was a Swiff knife and a desire to kill Jews because he was not allowed to worship on the Temple Mount without detectors.

Since that time, the metal detectors have been removed because Israel wants to maintain the "status quo on the Mount." Large riots and stabbings continue over this issue.

We are encouraged to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" in Psalm 122:6. We know that true peace will never come until the Prince of Peace comes, but for now we can pray that the current unrest does not escalate further.