In the aftermath of Israel’s miraculous victory in the 1967 Six-Day War, the Jewish people found themselves at the crossroads of history — with Jerusalem fully unified and the ancient Temple Mount finally under Israeli control for the first time in nearly 2,000 years.
Soldiers of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) were moved to tears as they ascended Har HaBayit (the Temple Mount), crying out the now-historic words: "Har HaBayit Beyadeinu!" — “The Temple Mount is in our hands!” The moment was widely seen by both religious and secular observers as nothing short of divine providence — a fulfillment of biblical prophecy and centuries of Jewish yearning.
But what happened next continues to stir debate among historians, religious scholars, and political analysts to this day.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Levi Eshkol and Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, Israel made the controversial decision to maintain Islamic administrative control over the Temple Mount, entrusting its oversight to the Jordanian Waqf. Despite having military control of Judaism’s holiest site, Israel refrained from altering the religious status quo — a gesture aimed at preserving regional stability and projecting moral superiority to the global community.
Yet, that decision is now increasingly questioned — even by moderate voices within Israel.
In a post-war interview, several Arab leaders reportedly admitted they were shocked that Israel had not demolished the Dome of the Rock or the Al Aqsa Mosque after reclaiming the site — an act they believed was inevitable given the intensity of the war and the religious significance of the location.
From a religious perspective, many believe this moment was a divine test — one that may have altered the course of Middle Eastern history had it played out differently.
"Had we reclaimed the Temple Mount not just militarily, but spiritually, perhaps the past six decades of bloodshed could have taken a different path," argues Dr. Yitzhak Reuven, a Jerusalem-based historian and Temple Mount activist. “This was not just a missed opportunity — it was a moment of spiritual hesitation with massive geopolitical consequences.”
Today, access to the Temple Mount remains a highly sensitive issue. Jews are permitted to visit the site under heavy restriction but are still forbidden from praying there. Meanwhile, the area has remained a flashpoint of religious and political tension — contributing to numerous uprisings, including the Second Intifada.
Many modern Israelis — both secular and religious — are now revisiting the choices made in 1967, wondering whether the decision to relinquish full sovereignty over the Temple Mount has come at a greater cost than anyone could have imagined.
While some maintain that the move preserved peace and avoided immediate war with the Muslim world, others argue it signaled a long-term retreat from Jewish heritage and divine mandate.
Would any other nation reclaim its holiest site after a victorious war — only to give it away in the name of tolerance?
Israel’s restraint may have been noble, but critics suggest it might also be one of the most ironic self-sabotages in modern history.
As tensions continue to rise around the Temple Mount and the Israel-Palestine conflict escalates anew, perhaps it's time to ask — was this Israel’s biggest missed opportunity of the 20th century?
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