Kamal Khatib, deputy head of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement, declared in an interview with Army Radio on Wednesday that "No Negro Ethiopian policeman is going to prevent Muslims from praying at Al Aqsa (mosque)."

Following Arab rioting on Sunday, police limited visits to the Temple Mount to Muslim men over 50. They have also forbidden Jews of all ages from visiting the Mount even though the Sukkot holiday is traditionally one of two annual periods when Jews were obligated to visit the Temple.

In the same interview, Khatib also denied any Jewish connection to the Temple area saying, "Our position is that the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Temple Mount are not holy to the Jews and it is forbidden for them to pray there.