World

Israeli PM holds talks on security at Jerusalem site

Israeli border police officers detain a Palestinian youth in Jerusalem's Old City on Monday. Islamic leaders called on Muslims to boycott a Jerusalem holy site at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a gesture of protest after Israel set up metal detectors at the site's entrance gates following a deadly Arab attack there last week. Picture by Mahmoud Illean, Associated Press
Israeli border police officers detain a Palestinian youth in Jerusalem's Old City on Monday. Islamic leaders called on Muslims to boycott a Jerusalem holy site at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a gesture of protest after Israel set u Israeli border police officers detain a Palestinian youth in Jerusalem's Old City on Monday. Islamic leaders called on Muslims to boycott a Jerusalem holy site at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a gesture of protest after Israel set up metal detectors at the site's entrance gates following a deadly Arab attack there last week. Picture by Mahmoud Illean, Associated Press

Israel's prime minister has consulted with officials over security arrangements outside a major Jerusalem shrine that angered Muslim leaders, who have urged worshippers to gather there on Friday.

An Arabic statement from Benjamin Netanyahu's office downplayed reports that the talks were over removing metal detectors.

Muslim leaders on Wednesday called on worshippers to attend Friday prayers at the sacred compound, and to pray outside if the devices are still in place.

Israel installed the detectors this week after Arab Israeli gunmen killed two police officers at the site, holy to both Muslims and Jews.

Many worshippers have since prayed on nearby streets, refusing to undergo security checks.

Palestinians see the installation of metal detectors as expanding Israeli control over the site, which is at the heart of the Middle East conflict.