The government of Israel scored another victory in its struggle against Palestinian Muslims on March 17 when the Jerusalem Magistrate’s court issued a temporary closure order against the contested site known as Bab al-Rahma (Gate of Mercy) on the Temple Mount compound. It is now up to Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan to instruct police to reseal the site the court shut down in 2003. Given the sensitive nature of the area, revered by both Muslims and Jews, this hot potato will likely end up on the desk of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A decision to enforce the court order could ignite flames in Jerusalem and the West Bank and spark a crisis in relations with Jordan.
