It encompasses 3 great Religions: Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Why all these restrictions to non-Muslims?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dome_of_the_Rock
http://www.sacredsites.com/middle_east/israel/jerusalem.html

Modern period
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In 1955 an extensive programme of renovation was begun by the government of Jordan, with funds supplied by the Arab governments and Turkey. The work included replacement of large numbers of tiles dating back to the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, which had become dislodged by heavy rain. In 1960, as part of this restoration, the dome was covered with a durable aluminium and bronze alloy made in Italy. The restoration was completed in August 1964.

Under Jordanian rule of Jerusalem, Jews were forbidden from entering the Old City. Israel took control of the Dome of Rock during its victory in the Six Day War in 1967. According to a posthumously-published interview with Haaretz, General Uzi Narkiss reported that on June 7, 1967, a few hours after East Jerusalem fell into Israeli hands, Rabbi Shlomo Goren had told him "Now is the time to put 100 kilograms of explosives into the Mosque of Omar so that we may rid ourselves of it once and for all." His request was denied; according to Goren's aide Menahem Hacohen, he had not suggested blowing up the mosque, but had merely stated that "if, during the course of the war a bomb had fallen on the mosque and it would have – you know – disappeared – that would have been a good thing." Later that year, in a speech to a military convention, he added: "Certainly we should have blown it up. It is a tragedy for generations that we did not do so. […] I myself would have gone up there and wiped it off the ground completely so that there was no trace that there was ever a Mosque of Omar there."[12] Shlomo Goren also entered the Dome of the Rock with a Torah book and the shofar.[13]

A few hours after the Israeli flag was hoisted over the Dome of the Rock in 1967, at the conclusion of the Six-Day War, Israelis lowered it on the orders of General Moshe Dayan, and invested the Muslim Waqf (religious trust) with the authority to manage the Temple Mount-Haram al-Sharif in order to "keep the peace".[14]

Dome of the Rock viewed through the Old City's Cotton Gate (Bab al-Qattanin)Currently, as territory of Israel, the Israeli government is still allowing the Muslim Council full administration of the site. Jews and Christians are barred from conducting services there.

Groups such as the Temple Mount and Eretz Yisrael Faithful Movement wish to relocate the Dome to Mecca and replace it with a Third Temple. Since Muslims consider the ground under the Dome to be sacred this would be a highly contentious move. The majority of Israelis also do not share the movement's wishes. Most religious Jews feel that the Temple should only be rebuilt in the messianic era, and it is their belief that it would be presumptuous of people to force God's hand. However, some Christians would consider this a prerequisite to Armageddon and the Second Coming.

In 1998 the golden dome covering was refurbished following a donation of $8.2 million by King Hussein of Jordan who sold one of his houses in London to fund the 80 kilograms of gold required.

Restrictions on entrance to the Dome of the Rock
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Sign at visitors entrance to Temple Mount.Until the mid-nineteenth century, non-Muslims were barred from the area. Since 1967, non-Muslims have been allowed some entry, but non-Muslim prayers on the Temple Mount are not allowed.[15]

After Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visited the Temple Mount in 2000, in what was considered by some a provocative gesture that set off Muslim rioting, non-Muslims were forbidden to enter the Temple compound.[16]

In 2006, the compound was reopened to non-Muslim visitors free of charge, except on Fridays and Muslim holidays, between 7-10 a.m. and 1:30-2:30 p.m. Entry is through a covered wooden walkway next to the security entrance to the Western Wall known as the Mugrabi or Maimonides Gate. Entry to the mosques themselves is prohibited to non-Muslims, as is access to the Temple Mount through the Cotton Market. Visitors undergo strict security screening, and items such as Hebrew prayerbooks or musical instruments are not allowed.

In addition to these restrictions put in place by the Muslim Council, most Orthodox rabbis regard entry to the compound as a violation of Jewish law. This restriction is based on the belief that even though the Temple was destroyed centuries ago, the precise location of the Holy of Holies, the sanctuary that was only entered by the High Priest, is not known. Hence the restriction is applied to the entire compound. However, some rabbis believe that modern archeological and other evidence have enabled them to identify areas that can be safely entered without violating Jewish law. [17]

And why is the 'holy of holies" banned to non-Jews? Does every religion not have a right to declare a place of worship a sanctuary for its beleivers? What right does ANYONE have to go gawk at a mandir, a church, or a synagogue if the place is designated as a worship site? worship is only meaningful to faith followers. Hence...the banning.

quote:

Entry to the mosques themselves is prohibited to non-Muslims, as is access to the Temple Mount through the Cotton Market. Visitors undergo strict security screening, and items such as Hebrew prayerbooks or musical instruments are not allowed.

Absolute nonsense.
To get to the Dome of the Rock you have to pass through Iraeli security at the entrances. Anyone can visit except during prayer times. Tourists are not allowed to take pictures, but they still do. They charge you about $1 US for entrance fee.

Terry..apart from the confusion, I think she probably mean INSIDe the haram itself. Most of the nonsense we hear regarding the haram is when the govt. wants to impose some new restrictions..and conveniently blame the muslims..