High Court raises wartime limit on Western Wall, Temple Mount worshipers from 50 to 100

The High Court of Justice rules to raise the number of people allowed to gather at the Western Wall and the Temple Mount amid the ongoing war with Iran from 50 people to 100, following petitions filed by religious leaders over the past day.

The petitions were filed against the backdrop of an interim ruling issued by the court on Saturday that allowed 600 people to gather for an anti-government protest in Tel Aviv despite the Home Front Command restrictions against large gatherings during wartime.

The move to allow the protest infuriated ultra-Orthodox leaders and coalition lawmakers, who accused the court of operating on a double standard as holy sites in Jerusalem remained closed to the vast majority of worshipers during the week-long Passover festival.

In its ruling, the court says it will continue to hold hearings on the matter in the coming days and orders the IDF Home Front Command and Israel Police to explain why there is not currently a policy in place that allows for “balancing security needs with the right to freedom of religion and worship.”