Israel will build in Jerusalem, says a defiant Netanyahu

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Tensions ran high on Sunday in annexed east Jerusalem ater hundreds of Palestinians were wounded in a weekend of clashes between protesters and Israeli security forces, sparking global concern that the unrest could spread further.

Tunisia’s foreign ministry said it has called for a meeting Monday of the UN Security Council to discuss the escalating violence.

Some 121 Palestinians were wounded in Saturday’s overnight clashes, many hit by rubber bullets and stun grenades, the Palestinian Red Crescent said in an updated toll.

Israel “firmly rejects” pressure not to build in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday following days of unrest and spreading international condemnation of planned evictions of Palestinians from homes in the city claimed by Jewish setlers.

Tensions over Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem have stoked daily confrontations.

Washington said on Saturday it was “deeply concerned” and wanted “authorities to approach the residents ... with compassion and respect”.

“We firmly reject the pressure not to build in Jerusalem. To my regret, this pressure has been increasing of late,” Netanyahu said during a televised address ahead of national commemorations of the Israeli capture of East Jerusalem in a 1967 war.

Meanwhile, Israel’s atorney-general secured a deferment on Sunday of a court hearing on planned evictions of Palestinians in Jerusalem, a session that had threatened to stoke more violence in the city and heighten international concern.

The Israeli Supreme Court had been due on Monday to hear appeals against the planned evictions of several Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem, an area captured by Israel in a 1967 war.

In a last-minute legal move, the appellants asked the court to seek a legal opinion from Atorney-general Avichai Mandelblit, opening the way for Monday’s session to be postponed and the possibility he could argue against the evictions.

Jordan urged Israel on Sunday to stop what it described as “barbaric” atacks on worshippers in Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa mosque and said it would step up international pressure.

What the Israeli police and special forces are doing, from violations against the mosque to atacks on worshippers, is barbaric (behaviour) that is rejected and condemned,” the government said in a statement.

Pope Francis called for an end to violence in Jerusalem, saying he was following events there with concern and inviting parties to seek solutions in order to respect the multicultural identity of the Holy City.