LONDON: The international community on Friday expressed deep concern over the recent escalation in violence in the occupied West Bank and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
At least 152 Palestinians were injured in clashes with Israeli riot police and 400 worshipers were arrested inside Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque complex on Friday, the latest outbreak in violence that took a slide to widespread conflict. The suspicion has increased.
The United Nations said it is “deeply concerned by the deteriorating security situation in Jerusalem during these holy days,” adding that the provocation must stop.
“I call on political, religious and community leaders from all sides to help defuse the situation. “The risk of further escalation of tensions only risks a further escalation,” Ton Weinsland, UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said in a statement.
He said the United Nations was in close contact with key regional partners to defuse the crisis and urged the Israeli and Palestinian authorities to “immediately defuse the situation and prevent any further provocation by radical actors”.
Conflicts come at especially sensitive times. This year Ramadan coincides with Passover, a major week-long Jewish holiday that begins at sunset on a Friday, and Christian Holy Week, which ends on Easter Sunday. Thousands of pilgrims are expected to visit the Old City of Jerusalem, home to major sites sacred to all three religions.
The European Union also said it was following the situation with “deep concern” and called for the violence to stop immediately.
“Further civilian casualties should be prevented as a priority,” said EU foreign affairs spokesman Peter Stano. “The status quo of sacred sites must be fully respected (and) Palestinian-Israeli security cooperation is essential.”
Stano reiterated the EU’s call for all parties to engage in de-escalatory efforts, and said that all leaders have a responsibility to act against extremists.
The foreign ministries of Germany, France, Italy and Spain in a joint statement condemned the violence in East Jerusalem on Friday.
“We call on all sides to exercise maximum restraint as well as refrain from violence and all forms of provocation,” spokespersons of the ministries said in their statement.
Neighboring Jordan, which has guardianship over the holy site, and the Palestinian Authority issued a joint statement accusing Israel of “a dangerous and reprehensible escalation that threatens to detonate the situation”.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said it “absolutely and directly blames Israel for this crime and its consequences.”
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudineh, said the international community “must immediately intervene to stop Israel’s aggression against the Al-Aqsa Mosque and prevent things from spiraling out of control.”
Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit warned against igniting the situation at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and blamed the Israeli occupation forces, saying they were launching a serious offensive against the Palestinians and during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. He had the right to perform rituals inside al-Aqsa during the period. ,
He expressed solidarity with Jerusalem and the Palestinians, saying, “Israel’s attacks on the Isagars represent a continuation of the series of Israeli crimes and provocations aimed at dividing al-Aqsa spatially and temporally.”
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council condemned the Israeli police and special forces for raiding the mosque complex and urged Israel to respect the historical and legal position in occupied Jerusalem and its sanctity, and to stop all illegal measures.
Nayef al-Hajraf also called on the international community to assume its responsibilities for the security of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and worshipers, and the need for Israel to comply with its obligations as an occupying power in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation said it held Israel “fully responsible”, calling the alarming escalation attacks on holy sites across the Islamic nation and a major violation of international resolutions.
It called on the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to end these repeated violations and to provide protection for the Palestinian people and holy sites.
Egypt also condemned the Israeli attack.
(with Reuters and AP)
Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli attack on Al-Aqsa mosque and attacks on Palestinian worshipers