Jerusalem police will be on heightened alert status on Friday, the first Friday of Ramadan prayers on Har HaBayis. As was the case in previous years, there will be age restrictions in place, but this year, unlike last, PA residents with permits to enter into the Green Line will be permitted onto the Temple Mount. Married women, PA resident, 30-45, with entry permits, will be permitted onto the Mount as will married males, 45-50, with permits.

Thousands of police reinforcements will be spread in and around Jerusalem’s Old City during the pre-dawn hours on Friday.

The restrictions are imposed in the hope of limiting accessibility to the Mount to younger worshippers, who police view as higher-risk, increasingly likely to create disturbances or attempt to perpetrate an attack.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)