After closing Jerusalem's holy site on Wednesday, Israel announced that it will reopen the contested mosque because of increasing threat of Israeli-Palestinian war.

According to Israel, the temporary closing of the mosque was a move done to allow both parties to calm down after Israeli police killed a Palestinian accused of attempting to assassinate an Israeli-American activist and rabbi.

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Israeli officials later said that the mosque, known as the Temple of Mount to Jews and the Noble Sanctuary to Muslims, will be reopened Friday.

During an interview with the AFP, police spokeswoman Luba Samri, said that the Al-asqa mosque will be opened at the dawn of Friday, to allow early morning or after midnight worships.

According to Samri, despite the reopening of the mosque compound, the entry of male worshipers will be restricted only to those who were over 50 years old. For Muslim women, on the other hand, all will be allowed to enter.

The closure of the holy site prevented Muslims to worship at the Al-asqa mosque, one of Islams three holiest sites.

Palestinians said Israel's move in closing the site was a clear "declaration of war."

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas said Israel was trying to wage war because of closing the holy site and preventing Muslim worship. The move would only increase the already high tension between the Israeli and Palestinians, headded.

However, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanhayu, the site's closure was not intended to fuel the tension, but to prevent the conflict from escalating. The measure aims to "restore the calm and status quo" in the compound, said Netanyahu.

The temporary closing of the site was prompted by an incident on Wednesday, where Yehuda Glick, a far-right Jewish activist was wounded during an alleged assassination attempt.

The already strained ties between the two nations have further worsened when Israeli authorities shot dead the alleged Palestinian assassin.

TagsIsrael-Palestine, closed mosque, Yehuda Glick, assassination attempt, Mahmud Abbas, Palestinians, Benjamin Netanyahu