Only non-Muslims banned from a site that Jews considered holy before there even was an Islam. Shows what violence will get you, at least sometimes: just what you want. From Reuters, with thanks to Dr JDJ:
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel will ban non-Muslims from a sensitive Jerusalem shrine on Sunday amid fears Jewish militants could provoke bloodshed aimed at stalling Israel's planned withdrawal from Gaza, officials said on Thursday.Police have tightened security at the site, revered by Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary) and by Jews as Temple Mount, to keep out Jewish ultra-nationalists who have vowed to hold a rally there on Sunday.
Palestinian militants have vowed renewed violence, which would break a two-month-old ceasefire, if Jewish nationalists enter the compound.
"We have received warnings in recent days over the Temple Mount. We have no concrete information but we must prevent all possibilities," Israeli Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra told Israel Radio.
"The Temple Mount will be closed to visitors (on April 10). Only Muslims will be allowed to enter," a police spokesman said of the site at the heart of the Middle East conflict. "This is to prevent any confrontations."
Interesting twist,I found an Islamic site that avers that everyone is born a Muslim and must work at getting to know Allah,so how could they ban certain Muslims from recognizing a shrine to Allah.
ala-sux-
Perfect point!
Is there some Sharia loophole for a 'three day conversion to Islam', as they allow "temporary marriages" -when they are caught in a 'compromising situation' (a girl or guy found in your dorm room in Tehran, etc.) and don't want to be stoned to death, -or when they just want to 'get jiggy' with some girl, but only for the vacation period, in Bahrain or Yemen, but no longer?
If so, then the 'non-Muslim' Jewish protestors trying to restore the Temple Mount could become 'long-weekend Mussulmen', and then let it lapse on April 11?
And everybody's happy!