Israel close access ramp to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque

Critics are saying the move is disrespectful  Israel has closed a controversial wooden access ramp to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City on concerns over public safety, a police spokeswoman told AFP on Monday.
“Based on an order from the city council, they have closed the ramp,” Luba Samri told AFP, referring to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation which is responsible for the upkeep of the structure, known as the Mughrabi ramp.
Jerusalem’s city council on Thursday ordered the closure of the access ramp, saying it poses both a fire hazard and is at risk of collapse.
But Muslim leaders fear work on it could have a destabilising effect, accusing Israel of failing to coordinate renovation plans with the Waqf, the Islamic organisation that has jurisdiction over Muslim parts of the site.
There are 15 gates leading into Al-Aqsa mosque compound, 10 of which are in use.
The Mughrabi Gate is the only access for non-Muslims to enter the site, meaning its closure will prevent both Jews and tourists from visiting until a replacement structure is built.
Last week, city engineer Shlomo Eshkol had sent a letter ordering the Foundation to close the bridge by the evening of December 14.
The structure has been at the center of a complex row between the city council and the Jewish and Muslim groups which respectively oversee the Western Wall plaza and Al-Aqsa mosque compound next to it.
Plans for the imminent closure of the ramp drew sharp condemnation last week from the Palestinians and from Jordan, which is the custodian of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem.
“This shows their determination to judaise Jerusalem and to take over the city’s Muslim holy places,” Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told AFP last week.
And Gaza’s Hamas rulers said implementing the closure would be a “criminal act which constitutes a flagrant violation of the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and a provocation to the feelings of millions of Muslims.”
The ramp leads from the plaza by the Western Wall, the most sacred site at which Jews can pray, up to the adjoining compound, known to Muslims as Haram Al-Sharif, which houses Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.
The plaza which houses the mosque complex is venerated by Jews as the Temple Mount, the site where King Herod's temple once stood before it was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. It is the holiest site in Judaism, but Jews are forbidden to worship there.
Jordan warned Israel on Friday against closing the ramp.
“Jordan rejects any Israeli attempt to affect Jerusalem’s holy sites, identity and heritage, including Al-Mughrabi Gate,” Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said.
The kingdom, which signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, “is in daily contact with the Israeli side to make sure it does not change the status quo of the gate,” Judeh told the government-owned Al-Rai Arabic daily.
Jordan’s powerful Islamists have condemned the city council’s decision.
“Israel is disregarding all Arab and international warnings,” said Hamzeh Mansur, head of the opposition Islamic Action Front party, accusing Israel of pursuing a “policy of Judaising the Holy Land.”
Last month, Amman warned that any Israeli “threats and aggressions” against the holy site would lead to “endless” violence in the Middle East.
“Jordan rejects any Israeli ttempt to affect Jerusalem’s holy sites, identity and heritage, including Al-Mughrabi Gate” that leads to the compound’s Al-Buraq Wall, known to Jews as the Western Wall, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said.
The kingdom, which signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, “is in daily contact with the Israeli side to make sure it does not change the status quo of the gate,” Judeh told the government-owned Al-Rai Arabic daily.
Jordan’s powerful Islamists have condemned the city council’s decision.
“Israel is disregarding all Arab and international warnings,” said Hamzeh Mansur, head of the opposition Islamic Action Front party, accusing Israel of pursuing a “policy of Judaising the Holy Land.”
Last month, Amman warned that any Israeli “threats and aggressions” against the holy site would lead to “endless” violence in the Middle East.