Jerusalem Police announced Thursday that in case of protests over Israel's digging at the Mugrabi Gate, only Muslims over the age of 45 would be allowed to enter the Temple Mount compound for prayers on Friday.

Police are preparing to deploy large forces in the Old City of Jerusalem near the Temple Mount on Friday in an effort to prevent any clashes, demonstrations, or distubances of peace in the eastern part of the city.

The Temple Mount opened Thursday to Jewish visitors for the first time in more than three weeks, and a number of groups visited the site.

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Hundreds of Jews had demonstrated near the southern part of the Western Wall on Tuesday, demanding that access to the Temple Mount be resumed.

The police had closed the area to Jews following Arab demonstrations against excavations and construction work at the Mugrabi Gate.

The police made that decision out of concern for the safety of Jewish visitors. During previous occasions when the site was closed to Jews, the decision was made at the request of the Waqf, an Islamic trust.

A visitor to the Temple Mount on Wednesday, Assaf Lerner, told Haaretz there was nothing special to report.

"When we visited there were nearly no Arabs and the Arabs who were there did not disturb us. Two policemen accompanied us, as is routine, and there was nothing unusual in the visit," Lerner said.

The committee of Rabbis of the Yesha Council has issued an announcement that Arab violence and government weakness since the Six-Day War has had a negative effect on the basic rights of Jews wishing to visit the Temple Mount.

"Only a change in perception, that the Temple Mount is the most holy site for the Jewish people ... will result in the end of the process in peace and quiet for the people that lives in Zion," the statement read.