JERUSALEM (AA) – An Israeli court on Sunday ordered the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound's Rahma Gate in East Jerusalem, according to local media.
The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court accepted a request by the government to temporarily order the closure of the gate, located adjacent to the eastern wall of Jerusalem's Old City.
Sunday's ruling comes amid tension in Jerusalem since last month, when Israeli police briefly sealed the gate, sparking angry Palestinian demonstrations.
In the weeks since, the Israeli authorities have banned scores of Palestinians -- including religious officials -- from entering the Al-Aqsa, which for Muslims represents the world’s third holiest site.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, in which the Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.