Israel’s decision to close Temple Mount after violence there was tantamount to a “declaration of war,” said Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
Israeli police said the site was closed “to prevent disturbances” after a drive-by shooting of right-wing activist
Yehuda Glick, but a Palestinian spokesperson told CNN closing the al-Aqsa Mosque, which is part of the site, was a "brazen challenge" and "grave behavior" that would cause "further tensions and instability."
CNN said an Israel spokesperson called the measure temporary and an attempt to "restore calm and status quo to the Holy Places." Thursday it was announced the Temple Mount would reopen in part, but only to men over the age of 50 and women of all ages.
Later Thursday, Israeli police announced that they would reopen the Temple Mount on Friday to the same group. The restrictions are to stop demonstrations by young Muslim men.
Jews consider the Temple Mount to be the holiest place in Judaism, while the al-Aqsa Mosque is the third-holiest site in Islam. Jews can access the top of Temple Mount, and campaigns have been ongoing to allow Jews greater access and rights at the site.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Abbas has encouraged violence at the site by calling on people to
bar the Jews from entering the Temple Mount, The Los Angeles Times said.
“I still have not heard from the international community so much as one word of condemnation for these inflammatory remarks,” the Times quoted Netanyahu on Thursday, adding that he also criticized the international community for “hypocrisy” and that he would put security in place to reinforce holy places in Jerusalem.
Haaretz reported that marches are expected to take place throughout the city Friday, and the Fatah called for a “day of rage” in response to the Israeli police shooting and killing the man who was the suspected shooter of Glick.
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