Tensions over holy site in Jerusalem rise as death toll reaches seven
- by Virginia Carter
- in World Media
- — Jul 25, 2017
Tensions have boiled over in recent days after Israel installed metal detectors at the Jerusalem shine that both religions share as a revered site, while turning away all Muslim men under the age of 50.
The UN Security Council will also hold closed-door talks today about the spiralling violence after Egypt, France and Sweden sought a meeting to "urgently discuss how calls for de-escalation in Jerusalem can be supported".
Jordan is the custodian of the Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem and on Friday thousands rallied in Amman to condemn the Israeli actions.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas suspended all contacts with Israel, including security co-operation, leading to the fear that events were spiralling out of control.
On Friday evening, a Palestinian identified as Omar al-Abed jumped over the fence of the Israeli settlement of Halamish in the West Bank and entered a home, surprising a family during their Sabbath dinner.
Three Palestinian protesters were killed in clashes Friday in Jerusalem and the West Bank while three Israeli citizens were later killed in a stabbing attack in the West Bank as unrest grew over a contested shrine.
In 2000, then Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon's visit to the compound helped ignite the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, which lasted more than four years.
Jerusalem is a "red line" and Arabs and Muslims would not accept such violations by Israeli occupation forces, the pan-Arab organisation chief said in a separate statement on Sunday.
Hezbollah flags were waved and Israeli flags were burned outside Israel's London embassy this weekend as scores of demonstrators vented their anger at new security measures at Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Arab Israelis are descendants of Palestinians who remained on their land following the creation of the state of Israel in 1948.
In its contacts, the agency said, "the Kingdom stresses that restoring calm requires that Israel remove electronic gates from the entrances of [Al Aqsa] Mosque and respect the historical and legal status quo of the city", where holy sites are under the custodianship of the Hashemite rulers of Jordan.
Israel Police said they are treating the incident as a nationalistic attack on an Israeli target.
Israel's security cabinet was due to convene on Sunday and is expected to discuss alternative security measures that could be used to replace the metal detectors, according to two Israeli officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
