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Palestinians to end boycott of Jerusalem holy site
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Palestinians pray in the Al Aqsa Mosque compound during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Jerusalem's Old City, June 17, 2016. (AP/Mahmoud Illean)
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alestinians will return to pray at a sensitive Jerusalem holy site Thursday after Israeli authorities removed controversial security measures there, potentially ending a nearly two-week crisis that sparked deadly unrest.
Muslim authorities announced a boycott of the Haram al-Sharif compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, was to end Thursday afternoon after Israel removed remaining new security measures.
The compound includes the revered Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock. Palestinians had boycotted it since the security measures were installed following a July 14 attack nearby that killed two policemen.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas joined calls for worshippers to return to the site.
"The prayers will happen, God willing, inside the Al-Aqsa mosque," Abbas told a press conference.
Abbas announced a freeze on contacts with Israel last week over the dispute, including security coordination, and said Thursday a meeting would be held on whether to lift it.
A tense standoff had been underway between Israel and Muslim worshippers at the holy site for nearly two weeks despite the removal of metal detectors on Tuesday.
Newly installed railings and scaffolding where cameras were previously mounted were also removed early on Thursday from the Haram al-Sharif compound.
Police said Thursday morning that all new security measures had now been removed.
