Abbas: Closure of holy site in Jerusalem 'declaration of war'

JERUSALEM, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' spokesman warned Thursday the temporary closure of a Jerusalem holy site was "a declaration of war."

The Temple Mount, a compound of ancient Jerusalem buildings sacred to both Jews and Muslims, was closed following the shooting of Rabbi Yehuda Glick, a prominent right-wing activist, on Wednesday. Police shot and killed Muataz Hijiazi, 32, a Palestinian suspected of trying to murder Glick, during a raid early Thursday.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for Abbas, said that the "grave act" of closing the holy site would "add to the tensions and instability and create a dangerous atmosphere."

During a meeting with senior security officials on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Abbas for inciting the attack on Glick by encouraging Palestinians to prevent "the ascent of Jews to the Temple Mount... by every means."

The prime minister advised that "No one needs to take the law into their own hands."

According to Israel's economy minister, the Temple Mount site will be reopened Friday.