Christians May Pray at Israel's Holy Sites, But Muslims Cannot

Israeli court backs government policy.

An Israeli court on Tuesday backed an Israeli government policy of allowing Christians from the Gaza Strip to pray at Israeli and West Bank holy sites, and denying the enclave's Muslims the same right.

The Supreme Court rejected an appeal lodged by six Gaza Muslims and Israeli non-governmental organisation Gisha to challenge a ruling of the Beersheba District Court, which refused to intervene against the policy.

The six women were prevented from going to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third-holiest site in east Jerusalem, to pray during a Muslim festival.