The Rishon LeTzion, HaGaon Rav Yitzchak Yosef shlita, addressed during a Chol HaMoed shiur the phenomenon of public figures and young people ascending the Temple Mount, and made it clear that such actions stand in direct opposition to the halachic ruling of gedolei Yisrael from all circles.
In his remarks, the Rav turned to the younger public and warned against being swept up by declarations and slogans that are not backed by real action. "There are people who talk and draw in the young with all kinds of slogans, but in practice what do they do? Nothing. Just talk, talk, and the young get excited."
The Rav then addressed specifically the activity of Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his ascents to the Temple Mount, noting that this is done in defiance of his repeated warnings and the accepted chareidi and halachic position: "I warned several times that it is forbidden to ascend the Temple Mount. I said this on Motzei Shabbos in the shiur at Yechaveh Da'at; the next day, specifically, that Ben-Gvir went up to the Temple Mount, against the view of all gedolei Yisrael from all circles."
The Rishon LeTzion continued his attack: "How is it possible to give strength to such a person who violates openly, with pride and contempt, who disrespects all gedolei Yisrael and ascends the Temple Mount?"
At the close of his remarks, he expressed support for Shas and said: "The Shas movement is the only movement that can preserve the tradition here in the state. Maran zt"l used to say that the Shas movement is like the mezuzah of the state, there is a state, there is a mezuzah for the state."
