Israeli Court Orders Closure of Aqsa’s Rahma Gate for 60 Days

Al-Quds, MINA – An Israeli court on Sunday ordered the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound’s Rahma Gate in East Jerusalem, according to local media.

Israel’s magistrate court in Occupied Jerusalem decided to close the Aqsa Mosque’s Bab Al-Rahma prayer area for 60 days. They accepted a request by the government to temporarily order the closure of the gate, located adjacent to the eastern wall of Jerusalem’s Old City, Palinfo reported.

According to the Hebrew website Walla, the Israeli court decided to respond to a petition filed by the Israeli occupation police asking for closing Bab al-Rahma and its prayer area for security reasons.

Last Tuesday, the Israeli police had closed the gates of the Aqsa Mosque, including the Bab al-Rahma, assaulted worshipers and expelled them from the Mosque after Palestinians allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at a police post there, but later the holy site was reopened on Wednesday.

Extrimist Jewish groups have repeatedly declared their intents to take over the Bab al-Rahma area and build a Jewish temple there as a prelude to taking over the entire Islamic holy site, which they call temple mount.

Sunday’s ruling comes amid tension in Jerusalem since last month, when Israeli police briefly sealed the gate, sparking angry Palestinian demonstrations.

In the weeks since, the Israeli authorities have banned scores of Palestinians including religious official from entering the Al-Aqsa, which for Muslims represents the world’s third holiest site. (R/Ais/R04)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)