Record numbers of Jews ascend Temple Mount

(JNS.org) A record number of Jews—approximately 1,600—visited the Temple Mount in Jerusalem during the seven-day Passover holiday this year, breaking last year’s record of 1,015 during the same time, according to non-profit organization Yirah.

Additionally, a record number of Jewish visits to the Temple Mount in a single day—495—also occurred during the Passover holiday. That exceeds the previous record of 448 visits set during last year’s Sukkot festivities.

The highest number of Jewish visits to the Temple Mount was also set during Sukkot 2016, with 1,611 recorded visits to the site.

The Jordanian Islamic Waqf tightly controls access by Jews and non-Muslims to the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site, under an arrangement following the 1967 Six Day War, when Israel gained control of the Temple Mount. Jewish and non-Muslim visitors are only allowed to ascend during very specific times during the week and the entrance may be closed without notice, even when scheduled to be open. 

Meanwhile, three Jewish visitors were arrested at the site for openly praying, in accordance with the status quo currently maintained at the sensitive holy site which forbids non-Muslim prayer and open demonstrations of worship.