A top Israeli rabbi moved Tuesday to prevent Jewish activists from breaking a ban on holding a traditional Passover sacrifice at the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound in annexed east Jerusalem.
The move by the rabbi of the Western Wall, Shmuel Rabinowitz, comes amid fears of violence at the holy site as the Jewish holiday coincides with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which draws tens of thousands of worshippers to pray at Al-Aqsa.
"Following reports of intent to bring a Passover sacrifice up to the Temple Mount: Rabbi of the Western Wall to prevent bringing animals to the Mughrabi area," said a statement from the Western Wall Heritage Foundation.
The Western Wall is the holiest site where Jews can pray and sits below the mosque compound, which they revere as the Temple Mount.
Passover begins on Wednesday and traditionally sheep and goats are sacrificed on the eve of the Jewish holiday.
"Under the direction of the rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, (we) will work to prevent bringing animals to the Mughrabi ramp area," the Foundation said, referring to the entrance to the mosque compound used by non-Muslims.
Israel annexed east Jerusalem following the 1967 Six-Day War, a move not recognized by most of the international community.
