High alert declared in Jerusalem

A high alert has been declared in Jerusalem ahead of the Tisha B'Av mourning day prayers that began Saturday night, as thousands of Jews gathered at the Western Wall. The age of Muslim worshippers at the Temple Mount will be limited, with thousands of police and Border Guard officers set to deploy in the area. According to the plan presented by senior Jerusalem police officials and approved by Police Chief Moshe Karadi and Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra, the troops will be deployed in the Old City, around the Temple Mount, and in east Jerusalem, in an effort to prevent disruptions to public order. Police officials will set up a tactical headquarters as early as Saturday and will use a helicopter and closed-circuit cameras to keep track of the situation. Forces will also set up roadblocks and screen suspicious vehicles and people around the Old City and Temple Mount. As a result of warnings that thousands of Muslims plan to reach the holy shrine and "protect it by force," the age of worshippers will be limited to those above 45 and carrying Israeli identity cards. The age of Muslim women will not be limited. The limitation will remain in effect until Sunday evening. On Sunday, the Temple Mount will be closed off to visitors. Meanwhile, police officials decided to prevent private vehicles from entering the Old City. Thousands prayed at Western Wall Settlers to demonstrate at PM's Office A series of events is already scheduled for the Western Wall area Saturday evening. Sunday morning, far right activists are expected to arrive at the Temple Mount, but the police are preparing to block them. Meanwhile, thousands of worshippers are expected at the Western Wall throughout Tisha B'Av, with most of them arriving in the afternoon. The Yesha Council has called on thousands of anti-pullout activists to arrive at Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office Sunday and demand that he hold a national referendum on the pullout or call for elections. From there, pullout foes are expected to begin marching in the direction of the Kissufim crossing. Also Sunday, police forces across the nation will go on an emergency deployment, with all vacations cancelled. Meanwhile, the fifth and sixth rings of pullout troops will be deployed in the south of the country.

High alert declared in Jerusalem

Tensions mount in capital ahead of Tisha B'Av mourning day and upcoming disengagement. Age of Muslim worshippers at Temple Mount limited in bid to prevent clashes, thousands of forces deployed in Old City