Saudi Arabia's King Salman is said to have personally intervened in pressuring Israel into reopening the Al-Aqsa mosque, according to media reports.
Last week, Israel >put Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa compound on total shutdown for two days, canceling Friday prayers for the first time in almost two decades, after three Palestinians opened fire against Israeli security forces near the compound.
Israel has since reopened the compound after introducing extra security measures, including metal detectors and additional closed-circuit television cameras.
According to a report published in Elaph online portal, a senior source confirmed that Israel agreed to reopen the compound after King Salman spoke to United States officials, asking them to ensure the reopening.
The source also cited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as promising to restore the status quo at the mosque, in which Muslims have exclusive prayers rights.
>Arab News has reached out for a response from the White House but has not yet received confirmation on the report.
Last Friday, three Palestinians opened fire against Israeli security forces near Al-Aqsa compound, killing two Israeli officers, before being shot dead by Israeli police.
Israeli police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld, claims the shooters were armed with several guns and began shooting at Israeli security forces near the Lions' Gate.
In response, Israeli authorities closed down the compound and banned Muslims from conducting Friday prayers at the holy site for the first time since 2000.
Defying the closure, dozens of worshippers reportedly gathered to pray at an entrance to the compound near the Lions' Gate entry.
The Saudi Cabinet "expressed deep concern" over the closure during a session chaired by King Salman on Monday, Arab News reported.
"It constituted a flagrant offense to Muslim sentiments around the world," Arab News cited the Saudi Cabinet as saying.
Israeli authorities restored access to the compound on Sunday, introducing extra security measures that Palestinians have been protesting against.
Metal detectors and extra video cameras were installed at the holy site. The move has angered Muslims who fear Israel's imposing its control over the site might pave the way for alteration in the current agreement, which gives them exclusive prayer rights in Al-Aqsa. Jews are allowed to enter the compound under certain circumstances but not pray there.
The Jordanian Islamic authority that handles religious affairs at the site, along with other Islamic groups, issued a statement condemning the additional security measures and called upon Muslims to "reject and boycott all the Israeli aggression measures".