The intervention of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud helped defuse the Al-Aqsa Holy Mosque crisis and the political and religious tensions, the Saudi Royal Court said in a statement yesterday.

The Saudi King had been in contact with the United States and other world powers over the past few days to try to prevent Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City being closed to Muslims and to defuse the tensions, the statement said.

“Saudi Arabia contacted the US administration to exert its efforts for not closing the Al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslims, not prevent them from performing their duties and prayers, and cancel restrictions being imposed on the entry to the Mosque. The efforts have been culminated with success today and in a way that contributed to restore stability and tranquillity to worshipers and preserve their dignity and security,” the Saudi Royal Court said in the statement.

Israel overnight removed all security infrastructure it had put in place this month at Muslim entrances to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound and on Thursday Muslim worshippers started to return to the compound to pray.

Saudi Arabia is custodian of Islam’s most revered places in Mecca and Medina while Jordan is the custodian of Al-Aqsa mosque, its third holiest site, which is also revered by Jews.

King Salman contacted the U.S. government and called for an end to restrictions on entry to the mosque, the statement said, saying that developments showed this push had been successful.

The king “stressed the need for the return of calm,” and called for respect for the sanctity of the compound, it said.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirms the right of Muslims in Al-Aqsa Holy Mosque and the performance of their worship in it with ease and tranquillity. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud stressed the need for the return of calm at Al-Aqsa Mosque and its surroundings, the respect for the sanctity of the place, and that Muslims must return to enter the mosque and perform worship in it with all security, tranquility and peace effective from today. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia emphasizes the importance of achieving a just and comprehensive peace for the Palestinian cause in accordance with the Arab peace initiative, the vision of a two-state solution and the relevant resolutions of the international legitimacy,” the Royal Court statement said.

Source: newsofbahrain.com