Arabs hit out at Israeli violence
Arab countries have condemned a weekend of violence after hundreds of Palestinians were wounded in clashes with Israeli security forces.
The violence around east Jerusalem’s revered Al Aqsa Mosque compound and the Old City is the worst since 2017, fuelled by a years-long bid by Jewish settlers to take over Palestinian homes.
Criticism of Israeli conduct has poured in from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Sudan and Morocco. Jordan urged Israel to stop what it described as “barbaric” attacks on worshippers in 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 attacks on worshippers, is barbaric (behaviour) that is rejected and condemned,” the government said in a statement.
Khartoum labelled Israeli measures against Palestinians as “repression”, and “coercive action”. It called on the Israeli government “to refrain from taking unilateral steps that diminish the chances for resuming peace negotiations”.
Bahrain condemned Friday’s storming of Al Aqsa Mosque by Israeli security forces. Morocco expressed “deep concern” over the violence saying King Mohammed VI “considers these violations... are likely to fuel tensions”.
Tunisia’s foreign ministry said it has called for a meeting on Monday of the UN Security Council to discuss the escalating violence.
Pope Francis called for calm. “Violence only generates violence. Let’s stop these clashes,” he said. “I pray so that this (Jerusalem) might be a place of encounter and not violent clashes, a place of prayer and of peace.”
The Middle East Quartet of envoys from the European Union, Russia, the United States and the United Nations expressed “deep concern” and called for restraint.
The US has urged both sides to “avoid steps that exacerbate tensions”.
“This includes evictions in east Jerusalem, settlement activity, home demolitions and acts of terrorism,” the State Department said.
Russia said the expropriation of land and property in the occupied Palestinian territories including east Jerusalem was “a violation of international law”.
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas voiced “full support for our heroes in Al Aqsa”, and his rivals in the Islamist movement Hamas warned that “the resistance is ready to defend Al Aqsa at any cost”.
Israel vows to maintain order
Israel vowed on Sunday to restore order in Jerusalem after clashes around the Al Aqsa mosque compound, while the justice ministry put off a key court ruling on a flashpoint property dispute.
Ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel “would decisively and responsibly impose law and order in Jerusalem”.
Netanyahu said that Israel would maintain “freedom of worship for all religions”.
But police set up roadblocks the previous night, saying they wanted to limit access to the Old City and avoid “violent riots” — effectively preventing hundreds from praying.
A reporter saw police stop at least one bus heading to east Jerusalem and detain some Palestinians, while hundreds of others marched on highways to the Holy City.
“They want to stop us from going to Al Aqsa,” said Ali Al Komani, 40, outside the holy site.
Worshippers prayed peacefully at Al Aqsa, but violence flared elsewhere in east Jerusalem, in the West Bank and on the Gaza-israel border.
Mounted police deployed outside Damascus Gate, a key access point to the Old City, as agents fired stun grenades to disperse protesters. —