Police vigilant in Jerusalem as Temple Mount age restriction lifted for Muslim worshipers

Security forces stationed in capital with an emphasis on the Old City in order prevent any incidents.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Border Police officers patrol Temple Mount (photo credit: REUTERS)
Border Police officers patrol Temple Mount
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Security forces were deployed across Jerusalem and other flashpoint areas on Friday morning in order to maintain order after police decided not to place an age restriction on Muslim worshipers attending Friday prayers at the Temple Mount complex.
In recent weeks, entry has been limited to men above the age of 35 and women, amid fears that youths planned to cause disturbances at the site.
Police units were stationed in the capital with an emphasis on the Old City in order prevent any incidents on Friday, Police Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.
The past few weeks have seen an usurp of unrest over Jerusalem's contested holy sites at the Temple Mount complex.
On Thursday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in Amman with Jordanian King Abdullah and US Secretary of State John Kerry to discuss the recent violence in the capital and the Temple Mount.
Following the meeting, Kerry called for a mechanism to be developed to end the violence in Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.
He was short on details, except to say that it would ensure that the status quo would be maintained at the holy site.
“The status quo is clear and the status quo will be maintained. The prime minister has made it clear that he will uphold that,” Kerry said.
The Amman meeting came amid a crisis in relations between Jerusalem and Amman over Jerusalem and the wave of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, including in Israel’s capital. Jordan has recently recalled its ambassador to Amman for consultations, and there is no date yet for his return.
Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this report.