MK Rothman Seeks to Open Temple Mount to Jewish Visitors on Rosh Hashanah
MK Simcha Rothman is calling for Jewish visitors to be allowed on the Temple Mount for Rosh Hashanah, including prayer and shofar blowing.
Jerusalem, 2 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — MK Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism) has urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to open the Temple Mount to Jewish visitors on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, which falls on Shabbat this year.
Jewish visitors are currently barred from the site on Shabbat, although limited visits are allowed during the week. Rothman also called for Jews to be allowed to blow the shofar and hold the Musaf prayer there.
Likud Ministers Shlomo Karhi and MK Amit Halevi joined the demand, arguing that closing the site to Jews on Shabbat and holidays violates freedom of worship and weakens the status quo.
They also said Israel should not allow the Waqf to determine Jewish access.
The Jerusalem Islamic Waqf opposes Jewish visits and prayer, calling them provocative and saying they threaten the longstanding status quo at the holy site.