Bennett slams handling of Temple Mount crisis, backs Netanyahu

Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett says Israel must not “broadcast weakness” in its fight against terrorism and mustn’t make short-term decisions that will have dire effects in the long term, an apparent criticism of the government’s decision to remove the metal detectors at the Temple Mount.

But the education minister says that while it’s “no secret” he opposed the security cabinet decision, he nonetheless “supports the prime minister.”

He also criticizes the opposition for slamming the government handling of the crisis, saying they must “choose a side.”

“There are those who are right — and there are terrorists,” he says. It’s “black and white. Choose a side — a fight against terrorism must be fought with a unified and determined front,” he says.

Bennett accuses Arab MKs of perpetuating a “blood libel” about alleged Israeli efforts to change the status quo on the Temple Mount, saying they know the claim is false.

He says Arab lawmakers who participated in Palestinian protests outside Jerusalem’s Old City are fanning the flames and “praying for another escalation,” while they know full well “there is no attempt to change anything” at the Mount.

— Marissa Newman