UN Security Council calls for calm, restraint at Jerusalem’s holiest site

Jordan’s King Abdullah II harshly denounced the Israeli incursions, warning that “continued Israeli provocations in Jerusalem threaten to affect Jordan-Israel relations”.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the United States “remains deeply concerned by the recent violence and escalating tensions” and called on all sides to exercise restraint and “and preserve unchanged the historic status quo” at the holy site “both in word and in practice”.

The Palestinians have concerns that the Israeli measures in eastern Jerusalem and against the worshippers at al Aqsa Mosque were all aimed at a temporal dividing of the mosque compound between Muslim and Jewish worshipers.

Mr Erekat’s remarks follow days of clashes between the Israeli police and Palestinian youths, who have reportedly barricaded themselves inside the mosque.

Israeli police clashed with Palestinian protesters yesterday in a third straight day of unrest at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said 26 people were wounded, with two hospitalised.

On a tour of some of the main flash points in and around Jerusalem, Netanyahu said the new steps would include giving security personnel wider powers to deal with stone throwers, imposing tougher legal penalties and introducing fines for perpetrators and their families.

Such incidents in the past have seen police briefly enter the mosque to close the door.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said the latest tensions were a result of “rumours and misinformation” among Palestinians. Police have said that firecrackers and firebombs were thrown or fired from within the mosque.

It also called upon the global community to move immediately to compel the Israeli authorities to stop the attack on the Islamic holy sanctuaries and respect religions, worldwide laws and legislations and the principles of the peace process.

Clashes in the Old City appeared to be more intense than over the previous two days. “We declare war on the rock throwers, the firebomb throwers and the other outlaws”.

“The rioters will not be allowed to prevent Jews from visiting the Temple Mount”, he said, using the Jewish term for the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

This came after a three-day round of violent clashes which took place at the Islamic site, prompted by calls from Jewish fanatics to organize large-scale Jewish visits there to mark to beginning of the Jewish new year Rosh Hashanah.

During the emergency meeting overnight Tuesday, also attended by Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, Netanyahu insisted that the status quo at the mosque should be maintained.

Israel captured the site when it seized East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank from Jordan in a 1967 war.

“We will fight by all necessary means against the users of stones, bottle bombs, pipe bombs and fire crackers for the deliberate intent of harming civilians and police officers”, the prime minister said.