Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to close the Old City of Jerusalem to Jews and non-Muslim tourists until the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan on April 21.
The decision was made after a meeting on security issues with the participation of senior ministers and heads of Israeli security forces, reports the Jerusalem Post, citing the Prime Minister’s Office.
At the same time, the government decided deploy all necessary security forces to protect worshipers at the Western Wall and on the roads leading to it in the Old City of Jerusalem.
As The Jerusalem Post notes, the decision was made despite the fact that in recent days the situation on the Temple Mount has remained relatively calm.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir opposed the ban, saying it would only make the situation worse.
At the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount on April 5 arrived clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians. By data media, Palestinians barricaded themselves in the mosque in response to calls Israeli ultra-rightists hold a ritual sacrifice on the Temple Mount.
Since then, Israel has been repeatedly bombarded by Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip and in Lebanon, the Israeli army replied on it with airstrikes.
The conflict between Israel and the Palestinian movements occurred during the celebration of Passover among Jews and the holy month of Ramadan among Muslims.