Palestinians hold prayers outside al-Aqsa after Israel intalls new security measures

Record ID: 903215

  • Title: Palestinians hold prayers outside al-Aqsa after Israel intalls new security measures
  • Date: 18th July 2017
  • Summary: JERUSALEM (JULY 18, 2017) (REUTERS) JERUSALEM OLD CITY SEEN FROM AFAR DOME OF THE ROCK AL-AQSA MOSQUE GROUP OF NUNS WALKING PAST ISRAELI SECURITY GUARDS SECURITY GUARD HOLDING GUN WOMAN WITH HEADSCARF WALKING BY SOLDIER'S GUN VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PRAYING OUTSIDE AL-AQSA MOSQUE, WATCHED BY ISRAELI SECURITY INSIDE AL-AQSA MOSQUE, VARIOUS OF PRAYERS INSIDE AL-AQSA MOSQUE VARIOUS OF JEWISH VISITORS AND TOURISTS WALKING AT AL-AQSA MOSQUE, ISRAELI SECURITY AT SCENE RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (JULY 18, 2017) (REUTERS) PALESTINIAN FLAGS VARIOUS OF PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER RAMI HAMDALLA CONVENING CABINET MEETING MORE OF MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER, RAMI HAMDALLA, SAYING: "In the name of the Palestinian leadership and the President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian government and in the name of all of our strong people in Jerusalem and everywhere, we reject all these dangerous measures (by Israel) which are preventing the freedom of worshipping, restricting the movement of the worshippers and imposing collective punishment and individual (punishment) on our people and are violating the right of access to the holy sites and violating the practice of the religious rituals." JERUSALEM (JULY 18, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ISRAELI POLICE SPOKESPERSON, MICKY ROSENFELD, AT SCENE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI POLICE SPOKESPERSON, MICKY ROSENFELD, SAYING: "Security assessments are being made on a daily basis. Extra units are being mobilised in and around the area of Jerusalem with emphasis on the Old City, each one of the different gates around the Old City. There are security measures that are being implemented; metal detectors as well as CCTV cameras that are being used. The security measures will continue as long as necessary in order to make sure Temple Mount is safe and the area is safe for individuals to walk at." ISRAELI SECURITY MEMBERS NEAR LION'S GATE SECURITY MEMBERS STANDING NEXT TO METAL DETECTORS LEADING INTO AL-AQSA MOSQUE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT OF JERUSALEM, FAKHRY ABU DIAB, SAYING: "These gates (metal detectors) are political, Israel, the occupation wants us to get used to what they want to do, to changing the nature of al-Aqsa mosque. I will not enter (through the metal detectors) and I refuse to enter and I will keep praying at the closest point (from the mosque) until they take these gates away." (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED RESIDENT OF JERUSALEM, SAYING: "They prevented the funeral from entering (the mosque) unless they went through the electric gate (metal detector). The family of the dead man refused to enter through the electric gate and went to pray with people here (at Lion's gate)." UNIDENTIFIED RESIDENT OF JERUSALEM, SPEAKING TO SECURITY MEMBER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED RESIDENT OF JERUSALEM, SAYING: "They (Israeli security members) did not refuse (to let us in) but they told us, you can enter through the electric gate (metal detector). This cannot be forced on us (to pass through metal detectors)." VARIOUS OF WOMEN SITTING OUTSIDE LION'S GATE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF THE SUPREME ISLAMIC COUNCIL IN JERUSALEM, SHEIKH EKREMA SABRI, SAYING: "(Islamic) religious sides decided that no entry through the electric gates (metal detectors is allowed) into al-Aqsa (mosque) and that these gates have to be taken off because putting them in violates the Islamic Waqf and the (Israeli) occupation is trying to control al-Aqsa mosque." DOME OF THE ROCK JERUSALEM'S OLD CITY SEEN FROM AFAR
  • Embargoed: 1st August 2017 13:03
  • Keywords: Israel Jerusalem al-Aqsa mosque Israeli Security Palestinians pray Lion's Gate
  • Location: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK/JERUSALEM
  • City: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK/JERUSALEM
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016Q8UN2F
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Palestinians held prayers outside al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem on Tuesday (July 18), refusing to pass through newly-installed Israeli security measures.
    Israel reopened the holy site on Sunday (July 16), drawing protest from Muslim religious authorities over the installation of metal detectors at entrances after closing the mosque for two days after a deadly shooting.
    On Friday (July 14) Arab-Israeli gunmen shot dead two Israeli policemen on the outskirts of the holy site, holy to Muslims and Jews, and were then killed by security forces. It was one of the most serious attacks in the area in years. Israeli authorities then closed the compound, citing security concerns, hours before Muslim Friday prayers.
    That move prompted anger among Muslim worshippers and was condemned by Palestinian religious and political leaders, Jordan and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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