Israel lifts holy shrine ban

Muslim prayers at a major Jerusalem shrine, which has been the epicentre of weeks of unrest, ended peacefully after Israel lifted restrictions on the entry of worshippers in an apparent bid to ease tensions.

The decision to allow Muslims of all ages to pray at the site coincided with a diplomatic push by US secretary of state John Kerry to restore calm. The push includes getting all sides to agree on the ground rules at the Muslim-run shrine and prevent future tensions.

Mr Kerry is meeting this weekend with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, custodian of the holy site, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, after holding talks Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.