Israeli police say that for the first time in the current round of escalating violence, Muslims of all ages will be able to enter Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque to perform Friday prayers.
Since mid-September, police had barred younger Muslim men from the site, which is revered by both Muslims and Jews and is a source of soaring Israeli-Palestinian tensions.
Police have said such bans were imposed to prevent clashes at the Muslim-run mosque.
Muslims view age restrictions as part of a perceived Israeli attempt to expand its presence at the site, a claim Israel has repeatedly denied.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says age limits were lifted Friday, following security assessments.
The decision came a day after US Secretary of State John Kerry met with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, in an attempt to lower tensions.
Kerry is to meet over the weekend with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, the custodian of the shrine, and with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Stabbings and shootings
Israeli forces shot and wounded a Palestinian after allegedly stabbing and lightly wounding a soldier in the occupied West Bank on Friday, the army said.
“An assailant stabbed an [Israeli] soldier during operational activity adjacent to the security fence in Gush Etzion,” a Jewish settlement bloc south of Jerusalem, an army statement said.
“The force responded, firing towards the assailant.”
A military spokeswoman told AFP the soldier stabbed was a Bedouin tracker who had opened a gate to enable Palestinians to harvest their olive trees.
Palestinian security forces identified the man shot by Israel forces as Mussab Ghanimat, 17, from the nearby village of Sureif.
The hospital treating the soldier said he was stabbed in the shoulder and in light condition. A spokeswoman for the hospital treating Ghanimat said he was in moderate condition and conscious.
On Thursday, two men from Sureif stabbed a man in the Israeli town of Beit Shemesh before being shot. One of them was killed and the other wounded.
There has been a spate of stabbings this month – mostly by young Palestinians – against soldiers, police or Israelis.
Since October 1, at least 49 Palestinians and one Israeli Palestinian have been killed, including alleged attackers. Eight Israelis have been killed in attacks.
One Israeli Jew and one Eritrean have also been killed after being mistaken for Palestinians.
Agencies
