Appeal court quashes ruling allowing Jewish prayer in Al Aqsa compound

Decision upholds ‘status quo’ which allows Jews to visit but not pray; US pushes Israel to reroute Jerusalem march this Sunday away from Muslim Quarter

Israeli appeal court quashes ruling on Jewish prayer at Al Aqsa compound (Reuters)
An Israeli appeal court overturned on Wednesday a ruling by a lower magistrate who had stirred Palestinian anger by questioning the legality of barring Jewish prayer at a contested Jerusalem shrine.

Al Aqsa mosque compound, which Jews revere as a vestige of their two ancient temples, is at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Under a decades-old "status quo" arrangement with Muslim authorities, Israel allows Jews to visit only if they refrain from religious rites.

US pushing Israel to reroute controversial Jerusalem march away from Muslim Quarter (Times of Israel)
Gantz, Lapid sympathetic to US stance, but haven’t swayed Bennett and Barlev, who say they already rerouted similar rally with far-right MK last month, Israeli official tells ToI

Palestinians: Israeli provocations in Jerusalem will lead to ‘explosion’ (Jerusalem Post)
The warnings came on the eve of next week’s Jerusalem Day, which is expected to be marked by holding a flag march in the Old City

Ahead of Flag March, Hezbollah chief says Al-Aqsa violation ‘will blow apart region’ (Times of Israel)
Nasrallah warns Palestinian groups have pledged a coordinated ‘stark response’ to any provocations; US embassy bars workers from Old City during march