Occupied Jerusalem: The Israeli regime removed an overhead metal bridge and the railings it had recently installed the holy Muslim site of Al Haram Al Sharif following Palestinian outrage over provocative surveillance measures installed there..
Israeli media reported that all the new inspection devices set outside the entrance to the shrine after the attack were removed.
It was not immediately clear whether surveillance cameras that had been mounted on the wall of Al Haram Al Sharif were also dismantled.
Muslim leaders in Occupied Jerusalem said they were satisfied with the Israeli measures and told worshippers to return to a holy site to pray.
Thousands of Palestinians have been praying in the streets outside the shrine after religious leaders told them not to worship inside the holy compound in protest.
Palestinians danced, chanted “God is Great” and set off fireworks early Thursday after the devices were removed.
The director of Al Aqsa mosque, Omar Kiswani, said a meeting of leaders of Muslim institutions would be held later Thursday morning and “will make the appropriate decision.”
The Mufti of Jerusalem, Mohammad Hussain, told the faithful to wait for the decision before resuming prayers inside the site.
Last week, Israel set up metal detectors outside Al Haram Al Sharif, Islam’s third holiest site, which houses the Al Aqsa Mosque, following an attack that killed two Israeli police officers within the compound.
But in response to massive Palestinian protests, Israel on Tuesday removed the metal detectors, saying it would install “new technologies”, including sophisticated surveillance cameras at the site over the next six months. Palestinians
have rejected the new steps and continued to hold mass prayers outside the mosque in protest.
Al Azhar, the top Sunni Islamic authority, said that on behalf of around 1.7 billion Muslims around the world, it rejects these “irresponsible and provocative” acts.
The prestigious institution also warned the world on staying silent over what it branded as “these aggressive practices that reopen doors for religious wars”.
Al Azhar said it would hold an international conference on Israeli-occupied Jerusalem in late September. “Occupied Jerusalem and Al Haram Al Sharif will remain inside Muslims’ hearts and their prime cause.”
Israel’s restrictions at Al Haram Al Sharif have infuriated Muslims across the world, triggering street protests.
Arab foreign ministers are due to meet in Cairo today for emergency talks on the crisis.
Palestinians accuse Israel of violating a status quo agreement and trying to expand its control over the Muslim holy site.
Under the agreement, Jews are allowed to visit Al Haram Al Sharif, but not to perform religious rituals there.
Radical Jewish groups have been campaigning to encourage more illegal raids on Al Haram Al Sharif.
Attempts by the Israeli regime to change the status quo have led to escalation of violence and tensions which
claimed the lives of hundreds of Palestinians and dozens of Israelis since last year. Jewish groups illegally entering the premises have the full protection of Israeli occupation
forces.
Al Haram Al Sharif is built on top of the ancient remnants of the Temple Mount, a site sacred in Judaism, but was destroyed in the 4th century by the Romans, during their rule.
Al Haram Al Sharif site houses both Al Aqsa Mosque which was originally commissioned to be built under Omar, the second Caliph in Islam in the 7th century, and the Dome of the Rock which houses the rock from which Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) ascended to heaven, according to Islamic teachings.
