Worshippers at Temple Mount (archives)
Photo: Haim Zach
Police on high alert near Temple Mount due to Gaza chaos
Only men over age of 45, women over age of 35 with Israeli ID cards allowed to take part in Friday prayers
The Jerusalem Police boosted its forces Friday morning ahead of the prayers which took place at the Temple Mount in the afternoon, in light of the escalating violence in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
The prayers ended peacefully. Some 8,500 Muslim worshippers over the age of 45 arrived at the Mount.
An evaluation of the situation was held by Jerusalem Police commanders on Thursday afternoon. Jerusalem District Police Commander Maj-Gen Ilan Franco recommended to Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen to limit the number of worshippers allowed to enter the Temple Mount for the Friday prayers following the situation in Gaza.
Police only allow men over the age of 45 with Israeli ID cards to enter the Mount.
Due to the high alert, the age of women was also be limited, and only women over the age of 35 with an Israeli ID card were allowed to attend the prayers.
Large police forces were dispatched to east Jerusalem since the early morning hours and deployed in the Old City's alleys and around the Temple Mount, in order to prevent any attempt to cause disturbances and in order to safeguard the public.
