The Jordanian-appointed waqf council that oversees Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem has 60 days to respond to the closure of a disputed compound near the Golden Gate in Jerusalem's Old City, the Jerusalem Magistrates' Court said on Sunday.
The waqf has recently tried to change the status quo near the gate (also known as the Gate of Mercy) by convening in the closed area and holding prayers, but this led to a court-mandated closure.
The compound was first shuttered in 2003 because it was used by a group connected with Islamic terrorism. Israeli authorities say any attempt to change it without approval would be in violation of the delicate arrangements on Temple Mount.
The recent opening and closure of the compound has led to occasional clashes in the area, which spread to the Al-Aqsa mosque.
Jordan's Foreign Ministry called on Israel to rescind its "dangerous" court-ordered closure Sunday, saying that the area "is not subject to Israeli jurisdiction" and falls under the "exclusive authority of the waqf."
