Israeli court allows Jewish prayer at Al-Aqsa, Palestinians denounce it
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Jerusalem: An Israeli Magistrate court's ruling allowing Jews to hold a silent pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex created a sense of fear in Palestinians who see the verdict as a step towards the encroachment of Muslim's third holiest sites in the world.
Until the new order, as per an agreement Jews were prohibited from performing any religious activities at the Al-Aqsa compound, the violation of which had been a criminal act. According to the longstanding agreement, while Muslims are free to worship at Al-Aqsa, Jews have been allowed to worship at the Western Wall, which is considered to be the location of ancient Temple Mount.
The recent verdict linked to an Israeli settler, Rabbi Aryeh Lippo, who sought clearance from a temporary ban on him from entering Al-Aqsa imposed by Israeli police for performing a silent religious obligation at the compound.
The Magistrate courts, which relatively deal with minor criminal cases, said Rabbi Aryeh's activity did not weigh to a crime attracting police action.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Ibrahim Shtayyeh has called on the United States to fulfil its pledge to preserve the status quo of the compound, and for Arab nations to stand in solidarity with Palestinians.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Ibrahim Shtayyeh is said to have communicated the matter with the US urging to pressure Israel to standby its agreement while calling on Arab nations to show their solidarity with the cause. Shtayyeh views it as aggression by which Israel may impose a new reality at the Holy Al Mosque.
As Palestinian, neighbouring Jordan also serves as the custodian of the holy site through a peace treaty between Amman and Tel Aviv in 1994. Jordan said the verdict is nothing but a flagrant violation compound's sanctity and a "clear provocation" for Muslims worldwide.
They also shared fear of Israel's plans to eventually take over the compound or partition it, as it did with a similarly contested holy site in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.