JERUSALEM, (Islamweb & News Agencies) -Israeli occupation authorities have decided that Muslim worshippers were to be allowed only limited access to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in east Jerusalem on Friday to prevent anti-occupation protests on the first anniversary of the Palestinian uprising or intifad against occupation.
Even though, officially, a ceasefire between Israelis and Palestinians has been in force since the meeting between Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Gaza on Wednesday, Israeli occupation forces are taking no chances.
Tensions still run high in east Jerusalem and there are fears that so sensitive an occasion as the anniversary could prove the flashpoint for serious incidents.
To that end, Israeli occupation forces were throwing a tight security cordon around the complex and allowing only men of 40 and older and in possession of a valid Israeli identity card to enter.
The restriction thus bans entry to all Palestinians living in the West Bank, except those who live in primarily Arab east Jerusalem which has been annexed by Israel.
Extra occupation forces will be deployed across Jerusalem to prevent West Bank Palestinians entering the city, and there will be a strong so-called security presence around the old city and entrances to the compound.
Yet, by a bitter irony that will not be lost on many of the worshippers who are turned away, they are being denied access to what is the third holiest site in Islam, but one where this latest Palestinian uprising has its genesis.
For it was there, a year ago, that then Israeli opposition leader and now Prime Minister Ariel Sharon paid a controversial and possibly ill-timed visit to an area no Jews are permitted to enter.
Sharon's presence caused uproar and invoked the anger of the Muslim population, who rose up in protest.
Since then, the intifada has left 827 people dead, inclduing 635 Palestinians and 169 Israelis, as well as injuring tens of thousands.
The fragile ceasefire was tested to its limits on Friday as Israeli tanks rolled into the Gaza Strip and five more Palestinians were added to the death toll, the tanks firing heavy machine-guns and cannons at a refugee camp, according to Palestinian security sources. (Read photo caption)
The Israelis also destroyed eight houses by razing them to the ground with bulldozers.
Yet, there was optimism over the chances of the peace holding as on Friday security cooperation between Israel and the Palestinians was due to resume.
Israeli officials said that for the first time since July 25 a high-level joint security committee would meet following Yom Kippur, the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar. CIA agents are also expected to take part.
The Al-Aqsa complex has been disputed territory between Jews and Muslims for time immemorial, for while the Muslims regard it as Islam's third most holy site, the Jews are adamant that it is the very heart of their own religion, for according to the Bible, the first Jewish temple was built there by King Solomon.
The second temple was a reconstruction erected around 2,000 years ago by King Herod, but demolished by the Romans in 70 AD, and the only remnant is the western wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, where the faithful come to pray.
PHOTO CAPTION:
A Palestinian student runs to take cover during Israeli gunfire in Rafah refugee camp in southern Gaza Strip near the border with Egypt September 27, 2001. Israeli occupation forces killed three Palestinians and wounded more than 20 civilians during a gunfight with Palestinians. (Suhaib Salem/Reuters)