Worshipers were gathered on Wednesday night for Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Destiny) when Muslims believe the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Muhammad. Worshipers gather for intense nighttime prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Thousands of police were deployed to Jerusalem’s Old City ahead of the prayers Wednesday and into Thursday on the compound, where officials have been trying to prevent a flare-up of violence for several weeks.
Israel Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai held a security assessment with Jerusalem police officials Wednesday evening, according to the Israel Police. The prayers were proceeding as planned, the police said.
The Temple Mount, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif or the Al-Aqsa complex, is the holiest site in Judaism and the third holiest in Islam. Over the past few weeks, it has been the site of riots and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police, during heightened tensions as Muslims mark Ramadan and Jews observed Passover. READ MORE
