Israel today lifted prohibition for Muslims to visit the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. These measures were introduced in connection with the unrest among the Arab population of East Jerusalem, which began one and a half weeks ago, said ITAR-TASS. www.itar-tass.com/

In addition, according to Palestinian sources, Israeli police had agreed not to arrest and to ensure free access of the temple complex for about 400 Muslims, barricaded in the mosque of Al-Aqsa mosque during the riots. They were there at the call of radical organizations “to protect Muslim holy sites.”

The reason for the riots was the rumors that the Jewish pilgrims are planning to climb to the Temple Mount in the period ending this week of Sukkot.

This October in Jerusalem, Palestinian demonstrators clashed with Israeli police. This happened after the Israeli authorities temporarily shut down access to the Temple Mount complex, including the Muslim shrines. This decision was taken for safety reasons, then next to the church rioting. The protesters threw stones at police and bottles, some guards used tear gas against demonstrators.

Several Palestinians, including a former minister of the Palestinian Authority, have been detained. Israeli authorities feared that a mass gathering of Palestinians on the Temple Mount could lead to unrest. In turn, the Palestinians say that they wanted to protect its shrine of the Jewish extremists who allegedly wanted to defile her.