Israelis impose severe restrictions on Muslims entering Al-Aqsa Mosque

After more than a week of enabling Jewish settlers to enter and desecrate Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Israeli authorities have imposed severe restrictions on Muslim worshippers who want to perform their obligatory Friday prayer in the Noble Sanctuary. According to Israeli media reports, the police are only allowing Palestinian men over 50 years old and carrying Israel identity documents to enter mosque along with women and children.

The reason given by the police is that they have “intelligence” which suggests that there are plans for a “riot” within the mosque. Eyewitnesses confirmed that there is a heavy police presence in and around Al-Aqsa.

These measures come after more than a week of disruption in the Noble Sanctuary by illegal Jewish settlers, backed by Israeli police, who have entered the mosque several times to perform Talmudic rituals therein. In response, a new Palestinian youth coalition has been formed which has called on all Palestinians to take part in popular activities in support of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian citizens of Jerusalem.

The coalition issued a statement expressing rage and anger over the continuous Israeli aggressions against Islam’s third holiest site. It criticised the Arab and Muslim states who allow this to happen. The actions of the Jewish extremists, claimed the coalition, are sanctioned by the Israeli authorities.

The youth group has called for a “popular revolution” to protect the mosque, to begin on September 29 which is the 13th anniversary of the start of Al-Aqsa Intifada. The uprising was sparked-off by the provocative visit of ex-prime minister Ariel Sharon to the Noble Sanctuary in 2000 supported by thousands or armed police officers.