The Jerusalem Police said Thursday that they have completed their preparations for the first Friday prayers of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at the Al-Aksa mosque and the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The prayers bring tens of thousands of Muslim worshippers to the site.
Thousands of police and Border Guard officers will be deployed in the Old City. Entrance of worshippers will be allowed for men over the age of 50 and woman over the age of 45 to reduce the chance of violence.
The Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency service said that as of Friday morning, it will be in its second highest alert status, resulting in a doubling of ambulances. MDA will deploy people to deal with the potential for demonstrations on the Temple Mount, which in the past have resulted in the throwing of rocks at Jewish worshippers in the Western Wall area below the Temple Mount. MDA also has to be ready in case of an act of terrorism.