Israel will be imposing extra restrictions around the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem during the holy month of Ramadan, which begins on Saturday, Al Jazeera reports.
- Worshippers visiting the mosque from the occupied West Bank will be restricted to men older than 55 and women older than 50.
- Palestinian prisoners recently released from Israeli custody will also be banned from visiting the compound during Ramadan.
- Israel has claimed the measures are similar to those imposed last year, but the Palestinian Authority has said they are “racist and provocative”.
- There will be an increased Israeli security presence around East Jerusalem during Ramadan, with 3,000 armed personnel stationed at checkpoints on roads leading to the mosque.
- Visitors of the Jewish faith are allowed to visit but not pray at the compound, according to a longstanding convention, as the compound is the site of a Jewish temple destroyed in 70 AD.
