Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem reopens after two monthsThe mosque compound, located in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, closed its doors in MarchJERUSALEM - Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound -- the third-holiest site in Islam after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia -- reopened on Sunday after being closed for more than two months because of the coronavirus pandemic. The compound, located in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, closed its doors in March as part of measures to limit the spread of the deadly new disease. It houses the Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, both of which were opened Sunday. Known to Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif, the site is under the custodianship of neighbouring Jordan, which controlled the West Bank, including east Jerusalem, up until occupation by Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967. With the number of COVID-19 cases declining, in recent days both Israel and the Palestinian territories have eased restrictions.

Source: Bangkok Post May 31, 2020 01:41 UTC