For the first time in 2,000 years, a Christian movement publicly showed support for Israel and for Jewish sovereignty over the Temple Mount, a holy site in the old city of Jerusalem. The site has been off limits for praying, singing and making of "any religious displays" since 1967.
Members of the Cry for Zion, a movement of Christian Zionists from all over the world, recently gathered during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot (Tabernacles) at the UN headquarters in Jerusalem overlooking Mount Zion to call for freedom of religion amid international pressure to maintain the status quo on the holy site, Breaking Israel News reported.
The status quo, maintained since Israel re-conquered the Temple Mount and unified Jerusalem in 1967, grants authority over the holiest site in Judaism to the Muslim Waqf. Jews and Christians are allowed to visit the site but are entirely forbidden from praying and displaying any religious symbols.
Jews may also not eat or drink on the Temple Mount since this would require them to say a blessing, which the Waqf guard forbids, the report said.
The Israeli government imposes entry limits to the holy site reportedly for political and security reasons.
An Israeli Magistrate Court ruling and the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights recently affirmed freedom of religion on the site, according to Breaking Israel News.
"This is really a battle for truth. Especially in Jerusalem, the truth is getting turned on its head. There are so many lies taking over the world that we need to guard the truth," said John Enarson, co-founder of the movement, of the deteriorating situation surrounding the Temple Mount.
"To say one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter just isn't true. The nations are looking to Israel for righteousness, truth and objectivity. We need Israel to be the light and we can see the light coming forth from Zion, from the people and even from the government," he added.
Rabbi Yehudah Glick, founder of the Temple Mount Heritage Foundation and recipient of the 2015 Moskowitz Prize for Zionism, addressed the crowd by saying: "It is a wonderful Godly breakthrough that more and more non-Jews are understanding the urgent need to get involved and to stand up on behalf of the Temple Mount.''
The rally reportedly gathered not just Christians but also Muslims and workers of the UN who joined in chanting "Allahu Akbar," and rally participants responding, "The Lord, He is God! the Lord, He is God!" and "Shema Israel!" said Breaking Israel.
The group then joined in the annual Jerusalem March but was reportedly prohibited by the Jerusalem Municipality to display their banner that read: "For Jewish Freedom on the Temple Mount."
The event concluded at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center, where Glick called for more support to open entry to the holy site.
