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Israel's Supreme Court Obstructs Freedom of Worship
On August 7, Israel's High Court ruled Gazan Christians can access Israeli and West Bank holy sites on holidays. Muslims were denied.
Six Muslim women were denied permission to pray at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque. Limited numbers of Christians, subject to age restrictions, may worship at their holy sites.
Muslim petitioners argued that Israel is obligated to let them travel freely from Gaza to pray. Each Friday during Ramadan, Israel lets 46,000 West Bank Muslims enter Jerusalem to do so.
In its ruling, Israel's High Court rejected appellants' argument that religious belief can't be used to deny access to holy sites. A three-judge panel decided otherwise. Their ruling was convoluted and lawless.
They said discrimination is permissible because Gazan Christians "are a minority group, and according to the respondents, their freedom of worship is infringed upon under the Hamas regime in Gaza."
Alleged religious discrimination is exaggerated. Islamic law isn't imposed. In contrast, Israeli discriminatory harshness is severe.
The Court accepted Israel's argument that travel outside Gaza is limited to "exceptional humanitarian cases." Most claimants, in fact, are denied. At the same time, about 4,000 Gazan football players, merchants, wedding guests, and others get permission to travel to Israel and the West Bank monthly.
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