The first thing I want to make clear is that the media and official police reports of only a handful of protesters is an outright lie. Although it is true that masses of people did not make it to the Temple Mount or even the Western Wall Plaza, it was certainly not due to a lack of interest but a virtual siege by the police of the entire Old City.

It is hard to say exactly how many people showed up, first of all because this was a completely grassroots effort and there is no real way to differentiate between a "Revava activist" and a regular Jew who is coming to pray at the Kotel or visit the Old City. The police erred on the side of caution and anyone who they remotely feared might be as they like to put it a "settler" (even though a majority of Revava supporters do not live in the "territories") was barred entry to the Old City or arrested on the spot.

If they did somehow manage to get through, or in my case were already in the Old City, they scrutinized every person who entered the Kotel Plaza and expelled or arrested anyone who they even thought might even consider being involved.

Finally, the turnout was naturally going to be lower than expected because of the constant reports from the police and government that the event was canceled and early reports of multiple arrests of Revava activists and organizers (Yisrael Meir Cohen was arrested at roughly 6 AM myself at 8). They even announced on the news in the morning that any "right wing activists" who attempted to enter the Old City would be immediately arrested (and they made good on that threat).

I know for a fact that there were several buses chartered from cities across Israel from as far away as Haifa and Gush Katif and in the past several days we have had non stop phone calls to our office and all of our personal cell phones. I was away for Shabbat in Safed and even I personally spoke to at least 25 people on the bus Sat night who promised they would come and bring friends and family.

While there were nowhere near our goal of 10,000 participants, the police estimate of "several dozen" is blatantly dishonest and nothing more than propaganda to delegitimize the organization and the entire struggle for the Temple Mount. I personally saw many people in the Kotel Plaza when I arrived at 8 AM and I was told by others that arrived later that there was a solid presence throughout the day including Knesset Members, veteran Land of Israel activists and many people who prayed and danced in support of the Temple Mount. It is impossible to tell how many people were turned away by the police at some point before they arrived but "several dozen" does not do justice even for the number of people who actually made it to the Kotel.

Yisrael Meir Cohen and I slept (or more accurately "rested briefly") last night in the Old City because we feared (rightfully so) that the police might attempt prevent us from entering in the morning. I received a call at around 7:30AM that Yisrael was already arrested and I realized then that it was going to be a long day. I finished the morning prayers and headed down to the Western Wall, at 8AM sharp passing many people and police officers on the way. None of them even alluded to the fact that I was breaking the law merely by being there. I went through the security check at the Western Wall, where 5 guards were standing and none of them mentioned that anything was out of the ordinary so I figured that for the time being the coast was clear. I didn't even make it all the way down the stairs when the commander of the plainclothes division "pounced" on me and told me "You realize that you are not allowed to be here?!" I figured that he was referring to the Temple Mount which was closed to Jews, and guarded by hundreds of riot police standing shoulder to shoulder at the gate. I told him that he has nothing to worry about and that I had no intention of storming the Temple Mount or causing any other disturbance. He informed me that it was forbidden for me to be in the Kotel Plaza or even the Old City at all and asked how I managed to "sneak in". When I told him that I simply walked through the gate and I questioned him why he was not bothering the thousands of other people who had come to pray he told me that I was under arrest and that I had to "go with him to the car".

I made it clear that I had absolutely no intention of going anywhere, I didn't have the chance to break any laws even if I wanted to and there is no way he can arrest me for showing up at the Western Wall. He begged me "not to make a scene" and that is precisely what I did. I ran away from him and started shouting to the media circus which was there that I hadn't done anything, and in the Israeli version of "democracy" Jews can be arrested for merely coming to the Kotel. Religious freedom in Israel only applies to Arabs! The Sharon government uses Bolshevik tactics on a regular basis in an attempt to silence us, but he will not succeed. Finally, I shouted "The Temple Mount belongs to the Jewish People" At this point I was surrounded by several officers who attempted to push me towards the police car. I laid on the ground and had a rather nice verbal exchange with the 8 or so officers who attempted to carry me out. At one point they just got tired and put me down to "take a break". I decided to have mercy on them and told them I would walk by myself to the car if they left me alone. It was obvious that they had laid a "trap" for me, the knew I would come and therefore allowed me to do so in order that the have a pretense to arrest me.

They arrested me and brought me for "questioning" at the police station, which was clear was not taken seriously even by the arresting officers who allowed the arrestees to freely speak with each other and even talk on the phone. They wanted to release me on my own recognizance on the condition that I wouldn't return to the Old City for 24 hours. I told them that I refuse to sign anything, I did nothing wrong, all of my belongings are in the Old City, I fully intend to go back there and they can either release me with no conditions or bring me before a judge for a remand hearing.
They were most displeased but legally they had to bring me before a judge within 3 hours which is a huge waste of time and resources as we were only talking about a 24 or even a 12 hour ban, or officially charge me with a crime which was impossible because I hadn't committed one. If all the arrestees demand to be brought before a judge it can seriously tie up the courts for the entire day. In the end the Judge disregarded my 30 minute argument complete with Supreme Court precedents why they had to release me unconditionally and that my arrest was illegal to begin with. He "sentenced" me to a 12 hour ban from entering the Old City and I was on my way.

While in the police station I sent out a bundle of text messages to the "chevra" to see what was going on in the Old City. 90% of them were also arrested or soon to be. The police arrested anyone who they recognized as an "activist", or even anyone who had a gush katif or Revava t-shirt. Everyone was released shortly with the same conditions.

In short "dozens" of people were arrested and many more expelled from the Western Wall. There were even reports in the media of police savagely beating an elderly man who merely asked them how they could throw good Jews out of their homes?

One thing is for sure, I have never seen a police presence like the one I witnessed today. There were literally thousands of officers, border police and soldiers deployed all over Jerusalem many of whom where brought from other cities. They certainly took Revava seriously regardless of their mocking after the fact. In response President Moshe Katzav called for an "solution" to be found in the near future which will allow Jewish Prayer on the Temple Mount in a dignified manner.

Several members of Knesset showed up and citing their legal immunity demanded to be allowed on the Temple Mount. When they were refused they had very harsh words for the police and government. Especially Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra who was personally there to observe the situation and received an earful of insults and criticism.

Regardless of how many people actually showed up, and how many actually made it in, the campaign has been a success of magnitude proportions. For nearly a month the subject of the Temple Mount permeated the media both Israeli and worldwide and the issue has been firmly put on the agenda. The fact that such a wide variety of people and "mainstream" members of Knesset chose to participate is the best proof that Revava is not some "fringe group" but speaks for a sizable portion of the Jewish People. We are not "violent extremists" or "ultra-nationalists" as the media likes to dub us, but plain old Jews who care about Eretz Yisrael and the desecration of G-d's name which is permitted to go on. The Temple Mount is the heart of the people and this campaign has showed that this is an important issue to many Jews. This was no provocation or attempt to sabotage the disengagement plan (although in essence it can serve as both), it was genuine concern for the issue of freedom of religion in Israel and equal access to Jewish holy sites.

It is a disgrace that Jews are banished from our most holy site and forbidden to pray there, and by a Jewish government no less. The majority has now spoken that the Temple Mount belongs to the Jewish People and we are willing to stand up for our rights to free access. If that is a provocation, then so is the very fact that we are Jews.