MK Glick sets up office at gate of Al-Aqsa

Extremist Likud MK Yehuda Glick yesterday set up his office at Al-Aqsa Mosque’s Lions Gate in protest of an ongoing ban against MKs visiting the holy site previously imposed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, local media reported.

Armed Israeli police were deployed to protect Glick during his one day protest, Arab48.com reported. Lions Gate is the doorway through which Israeli troops raided the mosque in 1967 during the Six day War.

Netanyahu imposed the ban about one and a half years ago, though he later revoked it, it was reinstated as a result of an increase in tensions at the Muslim holy site last month following Israel’s decision to change the status quo at site.

When the ban was lifted, MKs were told they must inform the police prior to entering Al-Aqsa’s courtyards, giving the time they will be going and enter without bodyguards, pledging not to perform rituals or speeches or bring along media crews.

Read: Netanyahu ‘temporarily’ lifts ban preventing Israeli MKs visiting Al-Aqsa