Israel imposes age restrictions for Friday prayers entry

Israeli security was tightened in and around the city of Jerusalem as tens of thousands of Palestinian worshippers tried to cross the border to take part in prayers in Jerusalems al-Aqsa mosque.Men under the age of 50 and women under the age of 45 were denied access to Jerusalem on the second Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.At the Israeli armys two main checkpoints, Bethlehem in the south and Qalandiya checkpoint in the north, which link the West Bank to Jerusalem, tens of thousands of Palestinians queued at the crossing points as Israeli troops checked identification cards, denying any men under 50 years of age or women under 45 access to the holy city.For most Palestinians residing across the West Bank, access to Jerusalem -- where Islams third holiest shrine, the al-Aqsa is located -- is denied due to Israeli army restrictions on access and movement imposed on Palestinians.