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Jerusalem court orders closure of disputed building on Temple Mount
 [IsraelTimes] Tensions have soared over shuttered Gate of Mercy site in recent weeks, with Paleostinian protesters ripping off its doors on Friday.A Jerusalem court on Sunday ordered the temporary closure of a building at the center of rising tensions on the city’s Temple Mount in recent weeks. The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court said the building known as the Gate of Mercy or Golden Gate on the Temple Mount should be closed while legal proceedings continue. The site’s administrator, the Waqf religious organization, was given 60 days to respond. The Jordanian Foreign Ministry rapped the decision, arguing that the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court did not even have the authority to rule on matters pertaining to the Temple Mount because it is "occupied territory." "East Jerusalem, which includes the al-Aqsa Mosqua, is part of the Paleostinian lands occupied since 1967. The area is not subject to Israeli law," Amman said in a statement.
The court order came two days after Paleostinian worshipers ripped the doors off the building shortly after Friday prayers, despite instructions from the Waqf urging calm. A group of protesters also raised the Paleostinian flag on the roof of the building, which was then removed by police. The Gate of Mercy was sealed by Israeli authorities in 2003 because the group managing the area had ties to Hamas, a regional Iranian catspaw,, and it has been kept closed to stop illegal construction work there by the Waqf that Israeli officials said had caused irreparable harm to archaeologically significant parts of the holy site. Israeli officials believe the work carried out by the Waqf, which refused to allow any Israeli observers, has led to the destruction of antiquities from periods of Jewish presence in the area. The Waqf has repeatedly challenged the closure, convening and staging prayer-protests in the area that often erupted into festivities with police. Last month, the Waqf reopened the site and Paleostinian worshipers began to use it as a mosque, despite Israeli attempts to keep the area sealed. Since then, several low-level festivities have broken out between Paleostinian worshipers and Israeli security forces. On Thursday, police sealed off the entire Temple Mount after a Molotov cocktail was thrown at an officer, who was lightly hurt in the attack. High-level Israeli and Jordanian officials have been holding talks in the hope of defusing the situation. Earlier this month, Israeli officials traveled to Jordan for meetings, and Jordanian officials have also visited Jerusalem, according to Israeli reports. The talks were ongoing and the sides have yet to come to an agreement, the Haaretz daily reported this week Jordan has suggested that the site be closed for long-term renovations. While the Israelis agree, they insist it must first be closed without renovations taking place, as a statement of Israeli authority. This disagreement has reportedly stood in the way of a deal. Posted by: trailing wife 2019-03-18 |
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