Israeli police bar men under 50 from Friday prayers at Jerusalem holy site

Israeli police bar men under 50 from Friday prayers at Jerusalem holy site

Israeli police said they would bar men under 50 from Friday Muslim prayers at a sensitive Jerusalem holy site after clashes erupted as Palestinians ended a boycott of the compound the previous day.

“Security assessments were made and there are indications that disturbances and demonstrations will take place today,” police said in a statement of the Haram al-Sharif compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount.

“Only men over the age of 50 will be permitted and women of all ages are permitted. A number of roads around the Old City will be limited to access and all necessary security measures are being taken to prevent and to respond to any outbreak of violence.”

The site includes the Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock.

On Thursday, Palestinians ended a boycott of the site over new Israeli security measures there and entered for the first time in two weeks.

Thousands of worshippers streamed into the site on Thursday afternoon. Clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians erupted soon after, with the Palestinian Red Crescent reporting around 100 people wounded.

Palestinians had decided to end their boycott of the site after Israel removed the new security measures, including metal detectors, installed after an attack nearby killed two policemen on July 14.