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Israeli Police Beware of the First Friday Prayers of the Month of Ramadan in Jerusalem. PHOTOS/Anadolu Agency
JERUSALEM – Police Israel is preparing to secure the tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims who are predicted to arrive at the city of Jerusalem for the first Friday prayer in the month of Ramadan. Even though there are regulations regarding permits to enter the Al-Aqsa mosque complex, it is believed that this will not reduce the enthusiasm of Palestinians to go to Jerusalem.
The Israeli Police announced that a reinforcement of more than 2,300 police officers and Border Police officers will be deployed in Jerusalem on Friday (24/3/2023) to maintain peace, along with hundreds of police officers who operate regularly in the city.
The troop upgrade will operate at crossings around Jerusalem, in east Jerusalem and in the Old City.
“The Israeli police will continue to act to allow many worshipers to visit the holy sites safely. We call on the public to respect the holiday and others, to celebrate, pray and celebrate the holiday in accordance with the law and obey the police officers’ instructions,” said Israeli police statement, as quoted from JPost.
From around 06.00 to 16.30, the following streets around the Old City will be closed to vehicles: Sultan Suleiman, Wadi Joz, Jericho Street, Shmuel Ben Adia, HaOfel Street, Nablus Street, Salah a-Din, Ma’alot Ir David, Van Paassen, Naomi Kiss.
From Friday morning to evening, the following roads will be closed as needed: Bar Lev Boulevard from Mateh Artzi junction to the south, Derech Hevron from Miriam Hahashmonait St. to the north, HaTsanhanim St., Kheil ha-Handasa St. and IDF Tunnels.
Last year, the first Friday prayers of Ramadan took place peacefully, although on the second Friday of Ramadan there were clashes and violence broke out between Palestinians and Israeli forces on the Temple Mount. 150 Palestinians and eight Israeli Police officers were injured in the clashes. Additional violence broke out repeatedly throughout the remainder of Ramadan.
In recent days, Palestinian media launched a campaign titled “We will break our fast in Jerusalem,” encouraging Palestinians to break their daily Ramadan fast at al-Aqsa and to increase the Muslim presence at the site.
Najeh Bakirat, deputy director general of Waqf in Jerusalem, in recent days called for large numbers of Palestinians to perform Itikaf, a practice in which Muslims stay inside the mosque for several days, at the al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan.
“I’tikaaf is the only and the best way to confront the occupation and its plans,” Bakirat said, according to Palestinian media. “The occupation can only be prevented by continuing and remaining firm on the land and grounds of the al-Aqsa Mosque,” he continued.
(esn)
