Friday Focus with Lazar Berman: There is no Temple Mount status quo

Welcome to The Times of Israel’s newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what’s behind the news that spins the globe.

Over the Passover holiday, some 6,315 Jews visited the Temple Mount, a 37% rise over last year. Among them was Religious Zionism MK Zvi Sukkot, who participated in a prayer service and prostrated himself on the ground in worship, activities that are usually prohibited for Jews at the flashpoint holy site.

Sukkot hailed the “tremendous change” since he was arrested for the same act 14 years ago.

Meanwhile, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who oversees the Israel Police, which enforces law and security on the Temple Mount, boasted that a shift in the unwritten status quo that governs the site was a result of his policies. He was up on the mount earlier in the month.

In a statement, Ben Gvir said, “I’m happy to see that MK Zvi Sukkot, like many thousands, is prostrating himself and praying at the Temple Mount. What wasn’t done for 30 years is being done on my watch, and I’m glad to have the honor, by the grace of God, to lead this huge change.”

So this week, Berman delves into whether this is such a “huge change” and how we arrived at the current precarious balance.

This conversation can also be viewed here:

Friday Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and the video was edited by Thomas Girsch.

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