A question about access to holy sites

[Don Corleone]

I want to begin by saying that I am not attempting the opening of yet another 'bash Islam' thread. If this degrades into 'what do you expect', then I would like to ask the moderators to close the thread immediately. Likewise, the first person who mentions the crusades or Saladin's reconquest of Jersualem gets Let's stick to a rational discussion of present day events.

That being said, it would appear that muslims have recently decided to not allow Christians or Jews access to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. This is a site that is holy to all 3 of the monotheistic relgions.... it was the site of the Temple of Solomon, it was where Jesus was tried and convicted, and it was where Mohammed ascended into heaven.

I would find it deeply offensive for Christians or Jews to deny access to Al Aqsa to Muslims. My question is why the Waqf, the Muslim caretakers of the Temple Mount, feel entitled to deny access to the rest of us?

Is there something in Islam that demands that when Islam shares a holy site with other religions, the other religions not be allowed to practice their faith or worship there? I'm not trying to inflame passions, I'd really like to know if this is an aspect of Islam, or is it a question of misapplied faith (ala Rev Fred Phelps out in Kansas, lest we Christians get to be too sanctimonious). What can we as Christians, and the Jews out there, do to be allowed to pray and worship at sites that you as Muslims control? If I wanted to go and say a rosary on the Temple Mount, what would it take?

In case you're all scratching your heads, I'm referring to this...
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/ar...TICLE_ID=49454

The Temple Mount was reopened to non-Muslims in August 2003. It still is open but only Sundays through Thursdays, 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., and not on any Christian, Jewish or Muslim holidays or other days considered "sensitive" by the Waqf, the Muslim custodians of the Temple Mount.

During "open" days, Jews and Christian are allowed to ascend the Mount, usually through organized tours and only if they conform first to a strict set of guidelines, which includes demands that they not pray or bring any "holy objects" to the site. Visitors are banned from entering any of the mosques without permission of the Wafq. Rules are enforced by Waqf agents, who watch tours closely and alert nearby Israeli police to any breaking of their guidelines.