File photo
Israeli authorities early Saturday reopened East Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al Aqsa mosque compound after a one-day closure.
In a statement, Jerusalem’s Jordan-run religious endowment authority said the dawn prayer was held on time inside the mosque after Israeli authorities closed the site for several hours.
The compound was shut down Friday evening after Israeli forces shot dead an Israeli-Arab suspected of attempting to stab a police officer at a mosque gate in Jerusalem.
Israeli police on Friday dispersed dozens of Palestinians protesting the closure of all the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem after an attempted knife attack.Police prevented Palestinian protesters from gathering in front of Lion's Gate (Bab Al-Asbat) for Isha, or the night prayer.They used stun grenades to disperse the crowd but later allowed a few Palestinian officials in for the prayer.The Palestinian Presidency later issued a statement asking for the opening of Al-Aqsa Mosque before the situation gets too difficult to control.The statement noted that any steps that would change the religious and historical status of Al-Aqsa would only lead to a further deterioration of the situation and escalation.Video: Israeli police close all gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque“East Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa are our red line. There will be no peace and security without them,” it said.Israel bears all responsibility for stopping these dangerous and unacceptable steps, the statement added.The closure came after an alleged knife attack at the Al-Majlis gate.A 30-year-old Israeli Arab suspected of attempting to stab a Jerusalem police officer at the Al-Majlis gate was shot dead Friday afternoon, Israeli daily Haaretz reported, citing the police.Later, hundreds of Palestinians performed the evening prayer at the Al-Asbat gate of the compound after police closed all the gates.Israel has made closing the doors of the mosque a regular occurrence, Al-Aqsa Mosque director Sheik Omar Kiswani told Anadolu Agency“These are very dangerous steps. It is obvious evidence of dirty Israeli aims to close Al-Aqsa to Muslim worship,” he said.Kiswani said Arab and Muslim countries ignoring events around Al-Aqsa Mosque and Palestine were responsible for what happens there.Israeli police have closed Al-Aqsa twice in the past 30 days.PLO asks world to intervene in defense of Al-AqsaIsrael puts youth in ‘admin detention’ for ‘incitement’Israel army forcibly disperses West Bank demonstrationsNetanyahu questioned again in long-running corruption probeIsrael PM’s wife accused of influencing political picks
Israeli police close all gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque
Speaking to Anadolu Agency on Friday, Al Aqsa Mosque director Sheik Omar Kiswani said Israel has made the closure of the holy site a regular occurrence.
Israeli police have shut down the Al Aqsa compound twice in the past month.
For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents the world's third-holiest site. Jews refer to the area as the "Temple Mount", claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East War. It annexed the city in 1980, claiming it as the capital of the self-proclaimed Jewish state in a move never recognized by the international community.
An unidentified Palestinian was murdered by Israeli forces outside al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Following the incident, Israel shut down the gates of Noble Sanctuary preventing Palestinians from entering.
Israeli forces murder unarmed Palestinian near Al-Aqsa Mosque
The international community should intervene against Israeli attacks on Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) said Friday.In a statement, PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi said the Islamic world needs to do its share on the issue.Ashrawi's remarks came after Israeli police on Friday dispersed dozens of Palestinians protesting the closure of all the gates of the mosque after an attempted knife attack earlier in the day.A 30-year-old Israeli Arab suspected of attempting to stab a Jerusalem police officer at the Al-Majlis gate was shot dead, Israel’s Haaretz daily reported, citing the police.For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents the world's third-holiest site. Jews refer to the area as the "Temple Mount", claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East War. It annexed the city in 1980, claiming it as the capital of the self-proclaimed Jewish state in a move never recognized by the international community.
PLO asks world to intervene in defense of Al-Aqsa