JERUSALEM, Sunday, March 17, 2019 (WAFA) – An Israeli court in Jerusalem today issued a decision to close Bab al-Rahma (The Golden Gate) prayer area in al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem and gave the Islamic Waqf, which is in charge of the Mosque, 60 days to appeal the decision.

The Waqf department in Jerusalem, which is part of the Jordanian government, has said on several occasions that Israeli courts have no jurisdiction over All-Aqsa Mosque, which is purely Muslim property, and that Bab al-Rahma is an integral part of the walled al-Aqsa compound, which runs over an area of 144,000 square meters.

Jewish fanatic groups have regularly declared that they intend to take over Bab al-Rahma area and build a Jewish temple there as a prelude toward taking over the entire compound, which they refer to as Temple Mount.

Palestinians and Muslims in general have warned of an outbreak of a religious war if Israel attempts to change the current status of Al-Aqsa compound as an only Muslim worship area.

K.T./M.K.