Israeli police restrict entry of Muslims to Al-Aqsa

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israeli police Friday restricted entry of Muslim worshipers to Jerusalem’s Old City and flashpoint the Al-Aqsa Mosque, after late Thursday’s decision by the Israeli Cabinet to keep the metal detectors at the entrances of the holy site.

In a statement, the police said: “In light of the recent events it has been decided to leave metal detectors in place at the entrances to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount [the Al-Aqsa Mosque].”

It also decided to prevent men under the age of 50 from entering Jerusalem’s Old City and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Israeli Cabinet late Thursday authorized the Israeli police on the arrangements for Friday prayers, following its decision to keep the metal detectors at the Al-Aqsa gates.

“The Cabinet has authorized the Israeli police to make any decision in order to ensure free access to the holy sites while upholding security and public order,” said a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

Jerusalem’s Jordanian-run Authority for Muslim Endowments and Al-Aqsa Affairs has decided to close all the mosques in East Jerusalem on Friday and called for prayers in front of Al-Aqsa’s gates to protest the metal detectors deployed by Israeli police.

Palestinians have been staging a demonstration against new Israeli “security measures” restricting access to Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Protests began Sunday after the mosque's leadership called on worshippers to boycott new metal detectors installed at the site's entrances after a deadly shootout last week.

These new security measures have led to a wave of anger among Palestinians, who called for the immediate removal of the metal detectors.

Israel has defended the controversial moves, claiming they were no different from security measures at other holy sites around the world.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East War. It later annexed the city in 1980, claiming all of Jerusalem as the Jewish state’s "eternal" capital -- a move never recognized by the international community.

Sacred to Muslims, Jews, and Christians, Jerusalem is home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which for Muslims represents the world's third holiest site.