Islamic groups blockaded the entrances to the Temple Mount on Friday to protest new security measures implemented in the wake of the recent shooting attack at the site.
Last Friday, three Israeli Arab gunmen descended from the mount and opened fire, killing police officers Haiel Staw and Kamil Shnaan. They subsequently ran back into the holy site, where they were shot and killed by Israeli security forces.
After a temporary closure the compound, the compound was reopened for prayer on Sunday but new metal detectors were placed at the entrances.
Objecting to the new security measure, the Wakf, the Islamic endowment that controls the site, called on worshippers to pray outside the gates to the mount until things are returned to normal.
"This is a severe violation of the status quo,” Sheikh Omar al-Qiswani, the director of the Al Aqsa Mosque, was quoted as saying by the Jerusalem Post.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that despite the new security measures he would not change the status quo at the site.
However, Israeli Arab lawmakers have rejected the prime minister's reassurances.
"It is far more than breaching the status quo. The Israeli government is defiling the mosques. They took advantage of the situation to impose a complete control over the compound,” said MK Taleb Abu Arar.
Meanwhile, MK Ayman Odeh linked the closure of the mosques over the weekend to the possibility of a new wave of terror.
"Closing the Aksa Mosque is explosive. The Second Intifada broke out on al-Aksa. I warn against the third,” he said, calling for a non-violent, political struggle.
The Al Aqsa Mosque is frequently the site of incitement against Jews. Last September a preacher from the mosque was sentenced to an 8-month prison term for saying that "we shall slaughter [the Jews] without mercy” during a sermon.
