RAMALLAH, West Bank — Tension has been growing at the Bab al-Rahma (Mercy Gate) prayer house on the grounds of the Al-Aqsa mosque complex, particularly since the deadline for Palestinians to close the building is now over and Israeli-Jordanian talks to resolve the crisis failed. Israel’s Antiquities Authority entered the Bab al-Rahma prayer house, with back-up from a large contingent of Israeli police, March 10, and took measurements of the premises and walls, and pictures of the prayer house.

Israel's Magistrates Court in Jerusalem on March 4 gave the Islamic Waqf (Endowment) Council one week to comply with the prosecution’s order to shut down the Bab al-Rahma building. The situation could now go in any direction, as the deadline has passed and the council did not repond to the court's request.

The council, which has authority over holy sites, wasted no time in dismissing the demand. After a March 5 emergency meeting of the council, member Hatem Abdel Qader said, according to al-Watan news, “The council will not respond to the occupation’s courts when it comes to the Bab al-Rahma prayer house, which will remain open to worshippers." He added, “We will not give in to the threats of the occupation’s authorities."

These remarks indicate that a standoff between worshippers and Israeli police is likely in the coming days. However, news reports said Friday prayers were peaceful March 8, even though an estimated 40,000 worshipers showed up to pray at the Bab al-Rahma gate, and Israel had beefed up security there.