RAMALLAH, West Bank — In a closed meeting Sept. 14, the Jerusalem religious authorities, which consist of four Islamic institutions, warned that measures will be taken in protest against Israel, in case the latter does not retract its decision to close down the Bab al-Rahma building inside Al-Aqsa Mosque and to bring the Islamic Religious Endowments before the Israeli court, considering it to be a terrorist organization.

Ekrima Sabri, the head of the Supreme Islamic Council in Jerusalem, told Al-Monitor, “Israel is deliberately taking retaliatory measures against Jerusalemites and Islamic Religious Endowments. The Israeli court decision consists of an encroachment upon the religious endowments’ powers, given that it is not entitled to issue any decision that has anything to do with Al-Aqsa.”

On the possibility of mobilizing worshippers and Jerusalemites at the entrances of Al-Aqsa, Sabri said, “Everything is possible. The religious authorities decided Sept. 14 that there will be measures in protest against such a decision, in case the occupation authorities did not retract their decision. Yet these measures will be determined in time. There is consensus on the need that the Bab al-Rahma building be opened and that prayers be held inside it, as it is a part of Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

Upon the recommendation of the Israeli police to permanently close the building, the Israeli Magistrates Court in Jerusalem renewed Aug. 30 the decision to close down until further notice the Bab al-Rahma building inside Al-Aqsa Mosque, which includes several offices and was initially closed down in 2003.