Glick fighting for life

Activist Yehuda Glick, a promoter of Jewish access to the Temple Mount, was shot and seriously wounded on Wednesday night by a gunman riding a motorcycle outside of a Jerusalem conference.

On Thursday, Israeli police shot and killed the Arab man suspected of trying to assassinate Glick.

Glick—the former director of the Temple Institute education and research organization, which says its work “touches upon the history of the Holy Temple’s past, an understanding of the present day, and the Divine promise of Israel’s future”—remained in hospital and in serious condition on Thursday. The gunman was identified as Moatez Hijazi, an Islamic Jihad activist. Hijazi, 32, had spent 11 years in an Israeli jail and was released in 2012.

“Yehudah is a selfless champion of the right for Jews to pray at the Temple Mount who works tirelessly towards this goal, and together with all of Israel, we are deeply concerned for his welfare, and in prayer for his speedy and complete recovery,” the Temple Institute said in a statement.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “I would like to send my best wishes for a full and quick recovery to Yehuda Glick, who is now fighting for his life. … The international community needs to stop its hypocrisy and take action against inciters, against those who try to change the status quo.”

“I have ordered significant reinforcements so that we can maintain both security in Jerusalem and the status quo in the holy places,” added Netanyahu. “This struggle might be long, and here, like in other struggles, we must first of all, lower the flames. No side should take the law into its own hands. We must be level-headed and act with determination and responsibility, and so we shall.”

Speaking to members of the European Parliament, Israel’s president Reuven Rivlin said: “I wish to offer my prayers that Yehudah Glick should have a full and speedy recovery, and send my support to his family.”

He added:  “This brutal attempted murder last night in Jerusalem, marks a further escalation of violence and terrorism in the city.  From the moment I landed from Poland, I have followed with concern the developments, and this morning, I have extended to the Special Police Unit, along with the police and intelligence organizations my support for their rapid and targeted actions.

 Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel, we cannot tolerate the existence of terrorism in the city. We must act forcefully and without hesitation against the perpetrators.  At moments such as these, it is crucial we are not dragged into a dangerous whirlpool of emotions.  We must allow our security forces to act to bring to justice the terrorist organisations who participated in this crime.”

(JNS.org) in conjunction with J-Wire