Security Restrictions on Prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque During Ramadan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced today, Monday, that he has made a "balanced decision" allowing freedom of worship at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem during the month of Ramadan, but access to the mosque will be subject to restrictions based on security conditions. In response to a question about the possibility of preventing Israeli Muslims from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Netanyahu's office stated, "The Prime Minister has made a balanced decision that allows freedom of worship according to security conditions as deemed appropriate by experts." Israel usually imposes restrictions on worshippers' access, often based on age, to prevent outbreaks of violence.