120.000 Palestinians reach al Aqsa mosque

Duration: 02:39 minutes Upload Time: 07-09-28 23:53:54 User: news6776 :::: Favorites :::: Top Videos of Day

Description: 28.09.2007 in Jerusalem, Israel & Qalandiya West Bank - Thousands of Palestinians met with tight Israeli security at a major West Bank checkpoint, trying to reach Al-Aqsa Mosque to hold prayer on the third Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.The pilgrims -- many of them elderly -- approached the 300 Crossing between Bethlehem and Al-Quds, crowding between concrete separation barriers guarded by Israeli troops. In spite of tight Israeli security measures 120,000 Palestinian worshippers attended Friday prayers at the Al Aqsa mosque.Israel deployed 4,000 police throughout Al-Quds preparing for a possible backlash from Gaza strikes earlier in the week, police said. The Israeli police set up several checkpoints on the roads leading to Al-Quds and checked ID cards thoroughly. Mounted police were deployed in the outskirts and helicopters monitored the situation from the air.Police will be barring nearly all Palestinians from the West Bank from the city, although officials indicated they may allow men over the age of 40 and women over 35 to enter.Israeli police claimed the added security is to ensure Muslim prayers go ahead peacefully. But Palestinians --barricaded behind Israel's separation barrier and banned from entering Al-Quds.