Israel outlaws Palestinian groups that guard flashpoint holy site in Jerusalem

Israel said on Wednesday it has outlawed two Palestinian groups that have been demonstrating against visits by Israeli Jews to the flashpoint holy site in Jerusalem.

An announcement by Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said the so-called Mourabitoun and the Mourabitat groups were declared last night "illegal organizations" and a person who participate or finance it, will be prosecuted.

The statement said the groups undermine Israel's sovereignty and "threats to harm public order."

The Mourabitoun and the Mourabitat are grassroots organizations, composed mainly of Palestinian women and elderly men, who hold rallies when far-right Jews visit the al-Aqsa mosque compound.

The site is holy to Jews too, who revered it as the Temple Mount.

Visits to the site by Israeli far-right activists have been on the rise, as part of their struggle to cancel a long-held ban on Jewish prayers there. Palestinians say Israel is violating a status quo agreement from 1967, which allows Jews to visit the site but prohibit them to pray.

Israel has objected such visits, fearing its potential to incite violence at the volatile site, but the government changed its mind recently, amidst pressure by right-wing leaders. Endit