Israel removes age restriction on mosque in Jerusalem

The age limit on Jerusalem’s Flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque has been lifted after points of restriction by Israeli authorities.

Police imposed tight age restrictions in recent weeks, fearing unrest by Palestinian youth following prayers at the holy site, known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. Only Muslim men age of 40 were allowed to pray at the mosque, now Israeli police has lifted age restrictions on Muslims wishing to pray Friday at the mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Israeli security was relatively light around the Old City, which has witnessed growing violence as Palestinians have clashed with Israeli security forces over the expansion of Jewish settlements and attacks on civilians.

US Secretary of State, John Kerry, met with King Abdullah of Jordan and Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in Amman on Thursday, November 13 in an effort to calm tensions in the holy city.

Palestinians see East Jerusalem as their future capital, but Netanyahu this week repeated his stance that all of Jerusalem is Israel's capital and that the construction of new settlements in the city would continue.