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New agreement 'grants Emirati, Bahraini visitors entry to Al-Aqsa site': Israeli report

New agreement 'grants Emirati, Bahraini visitors entry to Al-Aqsa site': Israeli report
Visitors will be allowed in through the Jordanian-Palestinian gates, according to reports.
2 min read
24 November, 2020
The agreement allows Muslim visitors from the two Gulf countries to visit Al-Aqsa [Getty]

Tourists from the and Bahrain who want to visit the will be granted entry under a new agreement, Israeli reports said on Monday.

Visitors will be allowed in through the "Jordanian-Palestinian gates," after the Palestinian Authority and Jordan reached an agreement with representatives of the UAE and Bahrain, Israel Hayom .

The report claimed the agreement was reached after fighting erupted between Jerusalem Islamic Waqf authorities – in charge of controlling and managing Islamic edifices – and Emirati nationals who attempted to enter the mosque.

There are currently nine functioning entrances to the Al-Aqsa courtyard – one designated for Jews, while the rest are for Muslims.

The agreement allows Muslim visitors from the two Gulf countries to visit Al-Aqsa and other holy sites. 

After signing a normalisation agreement in recent months, UAE and Bahraini nationals will be allowed to visit Israel for tourism the first time.

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Palestinians have shunned the agreement as a "betrayal", while anger has erupted in the streets in Jerusalem, where dozens protested against such deals.

Last month, Palestine's fatwa council head Mufti Muhammed Hussain deplored an Israeli-funded UAE delegation visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Despite the tensions, Israeli media cited an undiclosed official claiming the Al-Aqsa agreement also aims to "convey to US President-elect Joe Biden that the Palestinians do not reject the peace". 

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