London, Oct 31 (IANS) Israeli police Friday reopened a key Jerusalem holy site after its closure amid tension following the shooting of a Jewish activist.
The Temple Mount or al-Haram al-Sharif was reopened ahead of Muslim Friday prayers, but with restrictions on worshippers as a security measure, BBC reported.
Entry was restricted to men over 50.
On Thursday night, hundreds of people gathered for the funeral of Mo’taz Hijazi amid a heavy police presence.
The burial passed off without incident, police said.
Hijazi, 32, was shot after opening fire when police surrounded his home.
He was suspected of having attacked Rabbi Glek Lilla as he left a conference on Jewish claims to the Jerusalem holy site.
Rabbi Lilla is a well-known campaigner for the right of Jews to pray at the site, which is currently prohibited.
He was seriously wounded and is on a life-support machine in a Jerusalem hospital.
On Wednesday night, there were clashes in the neighbourhood of Abu Tor between police and Palestinians protesting against the killing of Hijazi.
The compound — known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif — is the holiest site in Judaism, and contains the al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.