Baffled by temple bar

• ON a recent spiritual journey to Jerusalem, although not particularly religious, I was disappointed not to be able to go inside the beautiful Temple on the Mount – just because I am not a Muslim.
At this time of peace and goodwill to all, this is particularly saddening. One was able to visit other sights of religious significance in Palestine and Israel. It would have been a profound experience to be able to enter under the golden dome.
Is there any particular reasons for this, I wondered rhetorically.
Straight answers that are pragmatic seem to be lacking in theological discourse, emotionalism replacing rationality.
GERARD GREENE
Evershot Road, N4