The mayor of Jerusalem has decided to suspend works near the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the city's Old Town that have sparked anger and violent clashes between Palestinian protestors and police, Israeli military radio reported.
According to AFP, mayor Uri Lupolianski announced late Sunday the suspension of repair work to a damaged stone ramp leading to the mosque that has angered Muslims across the world and which the Arab League on Saturday called a "criminal attack." Lupolianski made the decision after meeting with Muslim leaders.
Israeli police have denied access to Muslim men under 45 and Palestinians from the West Bank to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, Islam's third-holiest shrine. Israeli officials have insisted the works, expected to take months, pose no risk to the holy sites.
