Jewish couple secretly tied the knot atop the Temple Mount on Thursday, in a story of defiance sweeping Israeli social media.
Tom Nisani, chair of the group Students for the Temple Mount and activities director for Israeli right-wing NGO Im Tirzu, wed fellow Temple Mount enthusiast Sara Lu on Thursday in a hidden, rushed ceremony.
A video on Facebook shows Nisani explaining that it is forbidden to propose or “other similar activities” on the Temple Mount before hurriedly mumbling the marriage blessing and sliding a wedding band onto Lu’s outstretched finger. The two are dressed unremarkably, and clearly attempt to appear nonchalant, even as the entire ordeal was, it seems, in clear view of police officers.
The videos have received significant attention on Facebook, including comments such as “I’m surprised that Nisani was allowed to go up to the Temple Mount and it was so easy to put the ring on so visibly,” and sentiments from others wishing they had the “courage” to do the same thing.
The Temple Mount, once the site of the first and second Jewish temples, is now the location of the Muslim Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosques. Under the status quo, while Israel has sovereignty over the Mount and Jews are allowed to visit, the Wakf Islamic trust connected with Jordan runs day-to-day operations, and Israeli police prevent Jews from praying or other actions that might upset the majority Muslim worshipers.
However, in recent years, especially since the start of the so-called “knife intifada” in October 2015, there has been increased tension between police and some Jewish activists over observing the restrictive rules for visiting.
