The Western Wall and Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. Photo: Paul Arps via Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – During a celebration for Jerusalem Day at the Israeli Knesset, marking the 50th anniversary of the capital city’s reunification, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed the Temple Mount and Western Wall would remain under Israeli sovereignty.

“The black cloud over Jerusalem disappeared 50 years ago,” said Netanyahu. “The Temple Mount and Western Wall will stay under Israeli sovereignty forever.”

The prime minister lauded the freedom of religion practiced in Jerusalem “only under our (Israeli) control.” From 1948-1967, Jordan controlled eastern Jerusalem.

Netanyahu also linked Jerusalem Day with this week’s terror attack in the British city of Manchester, in which 22 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded.

“Had the victims of the Manchester attack been killed in Jerusalem, the terrorist’s family would have received a big stipend from the Palestinian Authority,” Netanyahu said, referring to an ongoing Palestinian Authority practice that Israel and the US have sought to end.

“You cannot say that the despicable act in Manchester is forbidden, but that here in Jerusalem it is allowed,” the prime minister added.