Minister said seeking to cancel Muslim prayers at Temple Mount over virus fears

5 March 2020, 2:15 pm

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Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan is reportedly seeking to ban Friday Muslim prayers at the Temple Mount over fears of the spread of COVID-19.

According to a report by Channel 12, Erdan wrote to the head of the National Security Council asking him to prevent the services from taking place tomorrow, following reports that four Palestinians are suspected of carrying the virus.

The weekly prayers at the holy site draw thousands of Muslim worshipers. Any attempts by Israel to interfere with the prayers at the flashpoint compound, which is under Jordanian custodianship, would likely be met with fierce Palestinian protest.