Yehuda Glick

Yehuda Glick
Date of birth (1965-11-20) 20 November 1965
Place of birth United States
Year of aliyah 1974
Knessets 20
Faction represented in Knesset
2016– Likud
Glick in 2014

Yehuda Joshua Glick (Hebrew: יהודה גליק‎‎; born 20 November 1965) is an American-born Israeli rabbi and current Member of the Knesset. He campaigns for expanding Jewish access to the Temple Mount.[1][2] He is currently a member of the Knesset for Likud, having taken the place of former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon in May 2016.

Glick is the leader of HaLiba, a coalition of groups dedicated to “reaching complete and comprehensive freedom and civil rights for Jews on the Temple Mount.”[3]

Glick was awarded the 2015 Moskowitz Prize for Zionism for being "Active for human rights and religious freedom on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount".[4][5] He also has been referred as a "right-wing" activist.[6][7][8][9][10][11] On 29 October 2014, Glick survived an assassination attempt by Mutaz Hijazi, a member of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine.

Personal life and career

Yehuda Glick was born on 20 November 1965 in the United States to American parents, Brenda and Shimon Glick; the family immigrated to Israel when he was a child.[12]

Glick is chairman of the Temple Mount Heritage Foundation, and previously worked as the executive director of The Temple Institute, a group that supports the building of the Third Temple on the Temple Mount.[13][14][15][16] He lives in Otniel.

Activism

Glick advocates opening the Temple Mount on an equal footing to prayer by Muslims, Jews, Christians and others.[17][18][19][20][21] He has been called "a symbol of the struggle for Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount."[22] And has been described as representing the recent shift in the demand for Jewish prayer to be permitted on the Temple Mount on an equal footing with Muslim prayer from the fringe to the mainstream of Israeli society.[17][23] Glick has spoken about his vision of a utopian Temple Mount. It would include a "House of prayer for all Nations," with the Dome of the Rock standing alongside a rebuilt Jewish sacrificial altar.[24]

Haaretz journalist Nir Hasson credits Glick as having put the Israeli left on the defensive by "uncover(ing) the absurdity created at the Temple Mount" by a status quo that, by permitting Muslim prayer while prohibiting Jewish prayer, "discriminates against people because of their religion".[25]

Glick has led groups of Jews to walk the Temple Mount, and has been repeatedly arrested while praying, walking and filming videos on the Temple Mount.[26][27] On 10 October 2013, Glick began a hunger strike protesting a police ban forbidding him to ascend to the Temple Mount. After 12 days the police relented, agreeing to permit him to enter the site on the same terms as other Jewish visitors, that is, only to visit, not to pray.[19] An Israeli court awarded damages to Glick for two wrongful arrests that took place as he attempted to film officials denying entry to the Temple Mount to Jews dressed in visibly religious clothing.[28]

Glick was arrested in August 2014 for allegedly pushing a member of the Muslim women's guard at the Temple Mount and was charged in mid-October for causing the woman to fall and break her arm. Glick's attorney said that there "was no direct evidence that Glick had assaulted" the woman. A condition of Glick's release on bail was to ban him from entering the area during the legal proceedings. The Israeli police argued in the court in December, in relation to the appeal of the ban, that "allowing Glick on the site posed a threat to public order".[29] He sued in response to sue the Israeli police over his ban from the site and was later awarded NIS 650,000 in damages and legal costs due to his ban.[30] Additionally, as part of its ruling, the court upheld that Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount is legal.[31]

On 4 June 2015, a Jerusalem district court banned Glick from entering Temple Mount, overturning a lower court decision. The judge ruled that Glick's presence was inflammatory and that "there is a risk of violence breaking out if the respondent returns to the compound before the end of legal proceedings in his case."[32] On 25 February 2016 the police dropped their charges against Glick.[33]

American political commentator Bernie Quigley has likened Glick to Gandhi, "earthy, wise, thoughtful, nonviolent and compassionate."[34] He has stated that the Muslim leadership's persistence in refusing to open up the Temple Mount to all monotheisms will bring about 'a very dangerous ... to a great threat to the world and to the peace of the world.'[35] Larry Derfner calls Glick a non-violent man, 'the friendly face of the Temple Mount movement,' but notes that Glick works with people known to hold extremist views.[35] Shany Littman, writing for Haaretz, describes him giving talks at a meeting at an ultra-Orthodox Jerusalem neighborhood where Meir Kahane's poster features, together with activists like Hillel Weiss, head of Lishkat Hagazit, which is dedicated to appointing a king of Israel, wiping out the seed of Amalek, and building the Temple; and Einat Ziv and Yehudit Dasberg from the Women’s Forum for the Temple.[36]

While waiting to become a member of the 20th Knesset, if a Likud vacancy arises, Glick is continuing his Temple Mount activism campaign, but has been barred from visiting the Temple Mount itself several times over the years due to the potentially incendiary nature of his activism campaigns.[37][38]

Assassination attempt

See also: Silent Intifada

On 29 October 2014, Yehuda Glick gave a speech at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem. According to eye-witness Shay Malka, Parliamentary Assistant of MK Moshe Feiglin, a man on a motorcycle who spoke with a "thick Arab accent" approached Glick as he loaded equipment into the back of his car after speaking at a conference, and asked if he was Yehuda Glick before shooting him in the chest 4 times and speeding off.[20][22][39][40]

Glick survived the assassination attempt and was taken to Shaare Zedek Medical Center for treatment.[41] Glick later told a rabbi that the gunman had apologized before firing at him, saying: "I'm very sorry, but you're an enemy of Al-Aqsa, I have to.'[42]

After having undergone several surgeries and being heavily sedated, Glick began showing signs of improvement on 5 November. He began to recognize family members and to be able to communicate yes or no with a nod of the head.[43] On 11 November, Glick was finally able to breathe on his own as well as speak.[44] One of the first people he spoke to after regaining the ability was Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, whom he called by phone, saying, "I know you fight for the right to speak, and for the last few days I have been fighting to breathe - so now I'm breathing alone and I want to share that with you."[45] He was eventually released from hospital 24 November.[46]

Police traced the suspected assailant, Mutaz Hijazi, to the mixed Arab/Jewish neighborhood of Abu Tor. Israeli police said their attempts at arrest were met by gunfire, a claim Hijazi's family denies,[47] which resulted in Hijazi being shot and killed.[48] Following the shootout with police, riots and protests broke out in the Abu Tor neighborhood.[49] Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld stated that the raid of Hijazi's apartment that followed the shootout provided them with substantial evidence linking Hijazi to the shooting.[50][51] According to his family, the authorities have yet to provide them with the results of their investigation for his incrimination for attempted assassination.[50] According to Palestinian sources, Glick's lawyers asked for the whole home where Hijazi lived to be demolished.[50] Although originally stating Hijazi's home would be demolished, they later stated the home would not be destroyed, and only the portion of the home where Hijazi lived would be sealed off.[52]

The suspect had been a member of Islamic Jihad and served 11 years in Israeli prisons for security offenses;[53] Islamic Jihad immediately published an obituary claiming him as a member.[54] The director of the Jerusalem branch of Fatah movement said "We in Fatah are not ashamed to take responsibility for the heroic act he carried out today".[55]

Reactions

Right-wing activists immediately called for peaceful marches to the Temple Mount on the morning following the late evening assassination attempt.[56] Security officials immediately closed access to the Temple Mount.[57] Israel's Minister of the Economy, Naftali Bennett said that the targeted assassination attempt crossed "a red line of blood", and called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "restore the sovereignty of Israel and its capital."[58]

Speaking on behalf of Islamic Jihad the morning after the shooting, Daoud Shihab said that Glick "got what he deserved".[54] It was reported that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sent a condolence letter to the family of the shooter after he was killed by the police.[6][59][60] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted by saying "When we are trying to calm the situation, Abu Mazen sends condolences over the death of one who tried to perpetrate a reprehensible murder. The time has come for the international community to condemn him for such actions." Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said "This shows that Abu Mazen is a partner, a partner for terror, a partner for terrorists, a partner for murders. This despicable letter by Abu Mazen openly supports terror and encourages further killings."[61]

Political career

Glick was placed thirty-third on the Likud list for the 2015 Knesset elections,[62] but the party won only 30 seats. However, after the resignation of two other Likud MKs, Glick became next-in-line for a seat in December 2015, and was attending Likud faction meetings.[37][38] In May 2016 former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon resigned from the Knesset,[63] resulting in Glick entering the Knesset;[64] he was officially sworn in on 25 May.[65]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ghert-Zand, Renee (30 October 2014). "Yehudah Glick, shot in Jerusalem, works for Jews' right to pray on Temple Mount". Times of Israel. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  2. ↑ Daniel Ben Simon (7 June 2013). "Rebuilding Israel's Temple Mount". Israel Pulse.
  3. ↑ Booth, William. "Israel blocks Jersusalem holy site amid rising tensions after activist shot". Washington Post. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  4. ↑ Interview with Vice News, vice.com; accessed 25 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Lion of Zion Winners 2015". Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Judge allows right-wing activist Yehuda Glick to return to Temple Mount". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  7. ↑ Nir Hasson (29 October 2014). "Prominent U.S.-born right-wing activist seriously wounded in Jerusalem shooting". Haaretz.com.
  8. ↑ "Right-wing activist shot during annual Temple Mount event in Jerusalem". ynet.
  9. ↑ "Yehuda Glick Targeted In Jerusalem Assassination Attempt - Business Insider". Business Insider. 29 October 2014.
  10. ↑ "Why was Yehuda Glick Shot? Rabbi Settler Visited Jerusalem's Temple Mount Daily". International Business Times UK.
  11. ↑ Staff. "Right-wing activist Yehuda Glick cursed on Jerusalem tour". JerusalemOnline.
  12. ↑ BenZion, Ilan (30 October 2014). "Police brace for violence after right-wing activist shot in Jerusalem Read more: Police brace for violence after right-wing activist shot in Jerusalem". Times of Israel. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  13. ↑ "Clashes in Jerusalem after shooting of rabbi". Aljazeera. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  14. ↑ ArutzSheva (4 November 2013). "Yehuda Glick Starts Hunger Strike". Arutz Sheva. Israel National News. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  15. ↑ Bryant, Christa Case. "Why it matters that Jews are standing on the Temple Mount". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  16. ↑ Kershner, Isabel (29 October 2014). "Right-Wing Israeli Activist Is Shot and Wounded in Jerusalem". New York Times. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  17. 1 2 Pfeffer, Anshel (31 October 2014). "The Temple Mount has gone mainstream". Haaretz. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  18. ↑ Arad, Roy (30 October 2014). "Not your typical Temple Mount zealot". Haaretz. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  19. 1 2 Ghert-Zand, Renee (18 November 2013). "One Man's Jewish Temple Mount Crusade". The Forward. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  20. 1 2 Dvorin, Tova (2 November 2014). "Yehuda Glick: A Man of Tolerance, Not Conflict". Arutz Sheva. Israel National News. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  21. ↑ Ghert-Zand, Renee (2 November 2014). "Yehudah Glick 'was a marked person,' father says". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  22. 1 2 Dvir, Noam (29 October 2014). "Right-wing activist shot during annual Temple Mount event in Jerusalem". Ynetnews. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  23. ↑ Hasson, Nir (4 October 2014). "Temple Mount Faithful: From the fringes to the mainstream". Haaretz. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  24. ↑
  25. ↑ Hasson, Nir (2 November 2014). "How the far-right changed the debate over the Temple Mount". Haaretz. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  26. ↑ Eisenbud, Daniel (18 March 2014). "Rabbi claims he was detained on Temple Mount for videotaping Muslims". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  27. ↑ JewishPress (21 August 2014). "Yehuda Glick Barred from Temple Mount". Jerish Press. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  28. ↑ Sharon, Jeremy (4 December 2013). "Court awards Temple Mount activist NIS 30,000 for two wrongful arrests". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  29. ↑ "Police stand firm on banning Yehuda Glick from Temple Mount". Haaretz. 1 December 2014.
  30. ↑ Court rules state must compensate Temple Mount activist, haaretz.com; accessed 25 October 2015.
  31. ↑ Jerusalem court upholds Jewish prayer on Temple Mount, jpost.coml; accessed 25 February 2016.
  32. ↑ "Jerusalem court bans Yehuda Glick from Temple Mount". Haaretz. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  33. ↑ Police Drop Indictment Against Temple Mount Activist Yehuda Glick, haaretz.com; accessed 25 February 2016.
  34. ↑ Quigley, Bernie (3 November 2014). "The passion of Yehuda Glick". The Hill. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  35. 1 2 Larry Derfner, 'The Fraud that is the Temple Mount Movement', +972 magazine, 31 October 2014; "Following the murder attempt on Glick, the claim is being made – and getting a more sympathetic hearing than usual (here and here) – that he and his colleagues have been leading a “civil rights” movement for Jews".
  36. ↑ Shany Littman, "Following the dream of a Third Temple in Jerusalem", Haaretz, 4 October 2012.
  37. 1 2 Ahren, Raphael (27 December 2015). "Undeterrable Temple Mount advocate now next in line for Likud Knesset seat". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  38. 1 2 "Next on the Likud Roster: Temple Mount Activist Yehuda Glick". Haaretz. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  39. ↑ Berman, Lazer (29 September 2014). "Right-wing activist shot, seriously hurt outside Jerusalem's Begin Center". Times of Israel. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  40. ↑ Hasson, Nir (29 October 2014). "Prominent U.S.-born right-wing activist seriously wounded in Jerusalem shooting". Haaretz. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  41. ↑ Terror victim Yehuda Glick shows signs of recovery, hospital says
  42. ↑ Yair Ettinger, gunman apologized before shooting, Glick tells rabbi", Haaretz, 17 November 2014.
  43. ↑ Temple Mount activist Yehuda Glick's condition begins to improve
  44. ↑ Glick's health improves enough to phone Knesset Speaker
  45. ↑ Yehuda Glick Calls Knesset Speaker, Finally Breathing on His Own
  46. ↑ Hasson, Nir (24 November 2014). "Temple Mount activist released from hospital, lauds Arab medical workers". Haaretz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  47. ↑ Beaumont, Peter (31 October 2014). "Israel closes Al-Aqsa mosque compound to all visitors". The Guardian (UK). Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  48. ↑ Dvir, Noam (30 October 2014). "Police kill suspect in shooting of right-wing activist Yehuda Glick". Ynetnews. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  49. ↑ Suspected shooter of US-born Israel activist killed by police, authorities say - Retrieved 30 October 2014
  50. 1 2 3 "Israel's High Court rules to seal room of Palestinian home", Ma'an News Agency, 17 June 2015.
  51. ↑ Watch: Special forces operate in Abu Tor against Yehuda Glick shooter; retrieved 30 October 2014
  52. ↑ Home of the man who shot Yehuda Glick will not be demolished, ynetnews.com; accessed 24 October 2015.
  53. ↑ Ilan Ben Zion and Elhanan Miller, "Suspected shooter worked at Begin Center, vowed to be ‘thorn in Zionist side", The Times of Israel, 30 October 2014.
  54. 1 2 Hasson, Nir (30 October 2014). "Israeli police shoot dead Palestinian suspect in Jerusalem assassination attempt". Haaretz. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  55. ↑ "Fatah Lauds Palestinian Shooter of Rabbi Glick; Continues to Encourage Terrorism". Jewish Press. 4 November 2014.
  56. ↑ Fisher-Ilan, Allyn (29 October 2014). "Israeli far-right activist shot and wounded in Jerusalem". Reuters Canada. Reuters Canada. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  57. ↑ TimesStaff (30 October 2014). "Israel closes Temple Mount to Muslims, Jews following Jerusalem shooting". Times of Israel. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  58. ↑ Baruch, Uzi (29 October 2014). "Bennett: Glick Shooting Crossed a 'Red Line of Blood'; MKs condemn shooting of Temple Mount activist Yehuda Glick, who was seriously wounded in the heart of Jerusalem.". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  59. ↑ Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik. (2014-10-30). "Fatah: "Celebrations throughout Old City of Jerusalem" after attempted murder of "despicable" Rabbi Yehuda Glick. Advisor to PA Chairman Abbas on terrorist: "The heroic Martyr (Shahid)... who carried out the assassination attempt against Zionist Rabbi Yehuda Glick"". Palestinian Media Watch.
  60. ↑ Tamar Pileggi (15 November 2014). "Abbas aide: Execute Palestinians who sell land to Israelis". Palestinian Media Watch.
  61. ↑ "Netanyahu: Abbas condolence letter to Glick shooter is act of incitement". Jerusalem Post. 3 November 2014.
  62. ↑ Likud list Central Elections Committee
  63. ↑ "Ya'alon resignation draws flood of praise, consternation". The Times of Israel. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  64. ↑ Replacements Among Knesset Members Knesset
  65. ↑ Temple Mount activist Glick sworn in as MK
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