Israel to reopen Jerusalem holy site
By Associated Press
Oct 30, 2014 12:14 PM CDT
Israeli border policemen arrest the brother and father, right, of Palestinian Moatez Higazi after he was shot in east Jerusalem, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014. Israeli police shot and killed Higazi suspected of trying to kill a hard-line Jewish activist in Jerusalem, an incident that quickly sparked clashes...   (Associated Press)

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli authorities say they have decided to reopen a key Jerusalem holy site for Muslim worshippers on Friday.

Israel blocked access to the Al Aqsa Mosque compound on Thursday, after clashes erupted in the city following the killing of a Palestinian suspect wanted in the shooting of a hard-line Jewish activist. It was the first time Israel has closed the site since 2000.

In a statement, police said that Muslim men over the age of 50 and women of all ages could attend Friday's weekly prayers.

Palestinians had condemned the closure as a "declaration of war."

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