Against regulations: MK Tzvi Sukkot ascends J'lem Temple Mount, prostrates in prayer despite police presence

Knesset Member Tzvi Sukkot of the Religious Zionism party ascended the Temple Mount today (Thursday) and fully prostrated himself on the ground, according to a press release from his office, which was accompanied by photos from the visit.

Although prostration is against the regulations governing the holy site, enforcement has decreased over the past two years, and Jewish visitors often do so freely despite the prohibition.

“We were privileged to make a pilgrimage to the Temple Mount today, with immense gratitude to the Holy One, blessed be He, for the miracles of the past year – in the north, the south, and in Judea and Samaria – thanks to the self-sacrifice of our soldiers,” read the statement from MK Sukkot.

“I’m here also to pray for the return of the hostages as soon as possible. We pray for them at this holy site, and for the success of the IDF soldiers on all fronts.”

Sukkot also reflected on a previous visit to the Mount: “Fourteen years ago, I bowed for just one second, the police caught me, arrested me, and filed charges. And now, here I am today – it's indescribable, with tears in my eyes. Jews are bowing, praying, and holding prayer groups. Arabs are not allowed near us at all, the Waqf doesn't come close. Back then, if they saw a whisper, they'd pounce on you. Today, it’s a great miracle.”

Rabbi Shimshon Elboim, head of the group advocating Jewish prayer at the site, was also quoted in the statement: “The fact that a Member of Knesset ascends the Temple Mount is a signal to the public. When people see a Knesset member going up, they say, ‘It’s possible, so we’ll go too.’ For two thousand years, we were dormant, and this awakening exceeds all expectations.”

About two weeks ago, a day after Eid al-Fitr and a few days after the end of Ramadan and following 13 days in which the site was closed to Jewish visitors, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also ascended the Temple Mount

Knesset Member Moshe Gafni of the United Torah Judaism party then criticized Ben Gvir’s ascent, warning that the move incites Muslims and the world against Israelis.

“This is a violation of the sanctity of the site and the status quo, which all great rabbis and chief rabbis throughout the generations have opposed,” Gafni wrote on 𝕏. “Your ascent there is a serious prohibition; it doesn’t express sovereignty – it’s a desecration and incites unnecessary provocation in the Muslim world and beyond.”

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry also issued harsh criticism: “A dangerous escalation, a blatant provocation, and a violation of the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the historical status quo on the Temple Mount.”

Last September, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an urgent meeting with a small group of ministers and top security officials regarding changes to the status quo on the Temple Mount following warnings from Israeli security that Ben Gvir’s actions at the site could lead to significant escalation during the holidays.

Security officials warned that violating the status quo on the Temple Mount could significantly increase terror attacks in Israel, orchestrated by Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah.

Officials at the time stated, “We could be facing a completely different kind of event than we’ve seen so far.”

A month earlier, hundreds of Jews ascended the Temple Mount for Tisha B’Av, including Minister Ben Gvir, who stated during his visit that “there’s major progress here in governance and sovereignty. Images of Jews praying here – as I said, our policy is to allow prayer.”

The Prime Minister’s Office distanced itself from his remarks: “Policy decisions regarding the Temple Mount are solely the responsibility of the government and the Prime Minister. There is no private policy of any minister – neither the National Security Minister nor any other.”