The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine Sheikh Mohammed Hussein said that the Israeli police prevented thousands of Palestinians from attending the Friday prayers at the holy mosque.
Hussein said that the Jerusalem police allowed Palestinian men over the age of 50 carrying Israeli identity card to enter the mosque for the prayers. He added that the women's entry was not limited. The Israeli police confirmed the move.
The police said it restricted their entry following estimates that the Fatah and Hamas movements were planning protests in favor and against the Egyptian regime's downfall.
The police added that it deployed large police forces in Jerusalem ahead of the Friday prayer, on the backdrop of the recent events in Egypt and following intelligence information.
According to the police, Fatah was planning a show of force on Al-Aqsa complex and that its activists were expected to protest against Qatari television network Al-Jazeera, both due to its involvement in the attempted coup in Egypt and following the publication of confidential Palestinian documents last week.
The police said that Hamas members wanted to protest against Mubarak's government as an expression of solidarity with the Egyptian demonstrators. Israel feared that their protests may turn violent and set Jerusalem on fire.
