Israel: Men under 50 banned from Jerusalem Old City July 21 /update 6

Event

Israeli authorities announced that men under 50 years of age will be forbidden to enter the Old City of Jerusalem on Friday, July 21, amid increasing tensions surrounding the holy site.

The conflict stems from the controversial installation of metal detectors at the entrances to Temple Mount (Haram al-Sharif) following a deadly July 14 attack. The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem additionally called for all imams in the city to hold Friday prayers outside the Temple Mount on Friday, July 21, as a form of protest. On Wednesday, July 19, hundreds of Palestinians clashed with Israeli police near the holy site in Jerusalem after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' party Fatah called for a "day of rage."

Further clashes surrounding the Temple Mount site are likely in the coming hours and days.

Context

Tensions are running high following one of the most serious incidents in Jerusalem in recent years. Temple Mount (Haram al-Sharif) was shut down for the first time in 48 years on July 14, after three Arab-Israeli gunmen attacked a group of police officers near the Lions' Gate in Jerusalem's Old City, killing two; the attackers were shot and killed at the scene. The site was reopened the following day after the increased security measures were implemented by Israeli authorities. Due to continued tensions and the potential for violence, the US government has restricted its employees and their family members from entering the Old City at least through Monday, July 24.

Longstanding political and social tensions between Israelis and Palestinians contribute to frequent security incidents of varying severity. At least 260 Palestinians and one Jordanian citizen have been killed since a wave of violent Palestinian street attacks began in 2015. Israel claims at least 177 of those killed were carrying out attacks, while the rest died in clashes and protests. In addition to these deaths, 40 Israelis, two US tourists, and one British student have been killed in Palestinian stabbings, shootings, and car-rammings.

Advice

Individuals in Jerusalem are advised to monitor the situation and avoid all public demonstrations due to the risk of violence.

More generally due to the ongoing terrorist threat, travelers are advised to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities and to remain vigilant when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, etc.). As a reminder, several Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and areas near the Lebanese, Syrian, and Egyptian borders.