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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Police on high alert in Jerusalem ahead of first Friday prayers of Ramadan |
| 2025-03-07 |
| [IsraelTimes] Police say they plan to deploy some 3,000 police and border officers across Jerusalem tomorrow for the first Friday prayers of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount. A spokesman says police will operate with additional reinforcements at checkpoints on the perimeter of Jerusalem, in East Jerusalem and within the Old City. Police say they aim to prevent “hostile elements from exploiting Ramadan for incitement, disturbances, terrorism or any form of violence.” Several roads adjacent to the Old City, including Nablus, Sultan Suleiman and Salah a-Din Streets in the East Jerusalem downtown, will be closed to traffic from 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Police advise drivers to use Begin Road as an alternative route. The holy site has been a flashpoint for violence, particularly with large crowds gathering on Ramadan, and has seen frequent clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces over the years, sometimes leading to wider violence. Last month, Hebrew outlets reported that Israel’s security establishment plans to allow only 10,000 West Bank Palestinians to enter the al-Aqsa compound for Friday prayer, and only if they submit a request in advance. Ex-prisoners released under the current ceasefire deal will not be permitted to enter the compound. Hamas calls on Palestinian Muslims in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as well as Arab Israelis to reject efforts to impose restrictions and to travel to the Temple Mount in large numbers and oppose attempts by Israel to “desecrate and control” the site, “by any means.” Older West Bank Palestinians, those 12 and under permitted to attend Temple Mount prayers [IsraelTimes] Police in Jerusalem gear up to secure prayers at the Temple Mount on the first Friday of Ramadan, with the Prime Minister’s Office saying Palestinians from the West Bank will be able to visit the holy site under the same terms approved by the government last year. A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office says males 55 and older, women who are at least 50-years-old and children 12 or younger will be allowed to enter Jerusalem to attend the prayers after receiving a permit from Israeli authorities. The statement adds that Israel is committed to upholding freedom of worship “for all religions and nations.” |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #1 It amazes me that we continue to pretend that *anything* associated with Islam can be "holy", whether its a date on a calendar or a site on the map. NOTHING is "holy" to them. They are a culture of murderers. They have no concept of holy, of compassion, or love. They are an enemy of civilization and need to be eradicated. |
| Posted by: Crusader 2025-03-07 00:26 |