Thousands of Palestinians were able to conduct Friday prayers for the first time in months, at al-Aqsa mosque, after Israel lifted age restrictions which have kept most worshipers out for months and aggravated serious tensions across Jerusalem.General director of the Jerusalem endowment, Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib, said that the number of worshipers reached between 35-40,000, despite the fact that Israeli security guards staffing the entrances still held the ID cards of hundreds who entered.
Locals told Ma’an that many worshipers received parking ticket fines of 100-250 shekels ($26-66) as they left the courtyard after prayers.
The easing on restrictions reportedly comes following an announcement, by US Secretary of State John Kerry, regarding an agreement between Israeli and Palestinian authorities on steps to reduce tensions at the compound.
