Cruz on Tisha b’Av
Cruz sends a message to his Jewish supporters on the day of Tisha B’Av in which he compares the Iran nuclear deal to the same danger that led to the destruction of the two ancient Jewish temples:
To all those observing the mourning of Tisha B’Av, I wish you a time of meaningful reflection on the destruction of the holy Temples and the calamities that befell our Jewish brothers on this day. As our Jewish friends hope for the rebuilding of the Temple speedily in our days, I share their joy in the establishment of a Jewish State after 2,000 years of exile. Especially today, with stakes so high, we can never allow there to be a threat to Israel’s destruction. We must furiously fight the Iran deal that puts Israel in jeopardy so that we may never again mourn the destruction of the Jewish State.
Palestinians barricade themselves in Mosque
Several hundred palestinian youths bar themselves inside the Mosque on the Temple Mount in order to prevent Jews from being able to pray there on holy fast day of Tisha b’Av (the ninth day of the month of Av), which commemorates the destruction of both of the Jewish Temples. 300 police attempt to stop the violence.President Reuven Rivlin condemned the attack by the Palestinian rioters.
Today, the fast of Tisha B’Av, we mourn the destruction of the Temple, the memory and lessons of which stay with us each and every day. The acts of violence and terrorism committed especially today, against worshipers at holy sites, must be condemned unequivocally. I express my support for the security forces, and for their determination to prevent any harm or interference to the prayers at the Western Wall, the remnant of our Temple. Such acts of hatred cannot be tolerated and we will not allow any disturbances to prevent Jews from praying at this holy site.
Clash at Temple Mount
Dozens of Palestinian youth, most masked, attack police with rocks, bottles, wooden planks, fireworks and firebomb, then barricade themselves in the Al Aqsa Mosque. As the violence escalates, police storm the Mosque to gain control over the situation. In the process three east Jerusalem Palestinians are arrested. Several police officers are also injured though it is not reported how many are injured. Police:
The clashes broke out after the Palestinians began throwing stones and shooting fireworks at Border Police and police forces that arrived at the mosque’s entrance. Afterwards, the youths fled into the mosque, throwing stones and bricks at the forces from within, and firing fireworks at them. An unidentified liquid was also thrown at the police.
