Head of al-Aqsa: Closing al-Aqsa threatens the entire region

Sheikh Omar al-Kaswani, who heads the administration of al-Aqsa Mosque, told Sky News Arabia that the decision to completely close the site this morning "threatens the security of the entire region."

Kaswani pledged to stay inside the locked-down site until Israeli authorities reverse their decision - authorities announced this morning that the site will be closed "until further notice."

Seven people, including Kaswani, were allowed access to the site this morning.

Many others completed the dawn prayer in the streets outside the compound.

Member of the Israeli Knesset [Parliament] Moshe Feiglin this morning attempted to pray at the contested site. He was prevented from accessing the site, which is closed to worshippers of all religions. Feiglin, who is head of the "Jewish Leadership" faction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing Likud party, later compared the decision to bar Jews as well as Muslims from the site to the events of 11 September 2001, reported independent journalist Dan Cohen.