TEL AVIV – Israeli troops take over secuirty of Al Aqsa mosque asauthorities banned the Palestinians from entering the complex in the OldCity of occupied East Jerusalem.

The measure will extend for a week, under the pretext of the proximity ofJewish festivities. Al-Aqsa, with over 1300 years old, is part of thereligious complex of the open area of Mosques of Jerusalem.

The Muslim tradition establishes that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) ascended toheaven from that esplanade in the year 621. This makes Al-Aqsa, afterMakkah and Madinah, the third holiest place for Muslims.

It is expected that Israeli settlers will massively invade the complex ofthe mosque in the next days due to the Jewish festivity of Sucot, alsoknown as the Feast of the Tabernacles, to say Jewish religious prayers, aswell as visit the Wailing Wall.