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Thousands Visit Temple Mount Since Its Peaceful Reopening

(Jerusalem Post) Etgar Lefkovits - In the two weeks since Jerusalem's Temple Mount has been reopened to non-Muslim visitors, thousands of Jews and Christians have peacefully passed through the ancient compound for the first time in nearly three years, in a hopeful sign of coexistence. The Temple Mount - Judaism's holiest site - is now open to visitors free of charge Sunday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. While small groups of Israeli policemen traversed the compound, guards from the Wakf (Moslem religious trust) stood at the entrances to the Aksa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, ensuring that only Muslims enter. The Wakf used to let tourists enter the mosque and shrine for a $9 fee, but, for now, these areas remain closed to non-Muslims. In the late 1990s, the Wakf earned millions of dollars every year from the admission fees. Public protestations notwithstanding, Wakf officials have reportedly received the backing of moderate Arab regimes such as Jordan, and the support of a key Saudi prince to reopen the site, in the face of virulent opposition to the move by Arafat.
2003-09-05 00:00:00
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