Celebrating Id al-Fitr by the sea

Israeli Arabs and Palestinians from the West Bank Thursday celebrated the first day of Id al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, by bringing their families to enjoy the beaches of Tel Aviv.Id al-Fitr celebrations marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan (Hadas Parush)Israeli authorities ease restrictions for Muslim worshipers to enter Jerusalem during the holiday to pray at the al-Aksa Mosque. Each year at Ramadan's end, celebrants flock from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv's Mediterranean coast, many for the first time. A family celebrates Id al-Fitr at the beach in Tel Aviv (Hadas Parush)The feast of Id al-Fitr began Thursday for Palestinians, according to the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem. A woman prays at the shore in Tel Aviv during Id al-Fitr celebrations (Hadas Parush)Celebrations will continue through Sunday, when more crowds are expected to congregate for shore-side festivities. Id al-Fitr celebration at the beach in Tel Aviv (Hadas Parush)During Ramadan, the faithful are supposed to abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex in a dawn-to-dusk period meant to test the faith and discipline of Muslims.Reuters contributed to this report.