By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israel has decided to allow some Palestinians to visit the Temple Mount in the Old City in eastern Jerusalem during the holy month of Ramadan, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Monday.
Married Palestinian men aged 45 to 50 and married Palestinian women aged 30 to 45, with special permits from the Israeli authorities, will be able to attend the Friday prayers on the Temple Mount, where the third most sacred Islamic site Al Aqsa Mosque is located, said the IDF.
According to the statement, Palestinian men over the age of 50 and women over the age of 45 will enjoy free access to the holy place in eastern Jerusalem, a section of the holy city Palestinians regard as the capital of their own state.
Meanwhile, the IDF said that during the fasting month starting Monday, the opening hours of the Israeli checkpoints in the West Bank will be extended, and gifts are allowed into Israeli jails for the Palestinian prisoners.
The decision to ease the restrictions followed a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday, when they agreed to pursue the efforts to reach a peace agreement by the end of the year.