Israel closes al-Aqsa Mosque

Israeli police on Thursday closed the Al-Aqsa Mosque, banning non-Muslim visitors from the compound in Jerusalem's Old City. Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told Ma'an the mosque was closed to visitors at 10 a.m. "to prevent incidents" following a security assessment over the last 24 to 48 hours. On Wednesday, dozens of Israeli right-wingers raided the compound through the Moroccan gate, leading to clashes at the Bab al-Hutta gate as Israeli forces escorted rightists into the mosque area. Jordan's communications minister on Wednesday condemned Israeli assaults on East Jerusalem, singling out the al-Aqsa Mosque, The Jordan Times reported. Muhammad Momani said Jordan's Foreign Minister Hussein Majali summoned Israel's ambassador and gave him a letter to deliver to the Israeli government protesting events at al-Aqsa, after Israel detained the mufti of Jerusalem. "The Israeli ambassador returned to Israel immediately after his meeting with Majali," Momani said, adding that Jordan would not tolerate any more Israeli violations in East Jerusalem.