Fines imposed on merchants who open their shops in Jerusalem

The Israeli police threatened on Saturday to fine the merchants who open their shops in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Merchant Tareq al-Amouri told Quds Press that Jerusalem has not witnessed such a bad situation for years.

Amouri said that despite the short distance between his house and his shop in the Old City, it took him an hour and a half to reach the city because of the so many checkpoints he had to pass through.

He pointed out that when he approached Bab al-Amud checkpoint, the Israeli police did not allow him to pass.

The merchants who opened their shops on Saturday were beaten by the Israeli police and threatened to be fined with 5,000 shekels (1,400 dollars) if they did not close their shops immediately, he affirmed.

Amouri reported that no one is currently allowed to enter the Old City except its residents after being subjected to “humiliating” physical searches.

Read: Israel’s targeting of youth in Al-Aqsa

Three Palestinian youths were killed on Friday in an armed clash with the Israeli police near al-Aqsa Mosque. Two Israeli officers were also pronounced dead.

Following the clash, al-Aqsa Mosque’s gates were closed before Palestinian worshipers for the first time since 1969 and many checkpoints were deployed in the Old City.

According to Israeli police statements, the Mosque will remain closed until the completion of all investigations into the incident.