UN chief voices concern about rising violence in Jerusalem

Washington:  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his deep concern on Wednesday about Jerusalem’s “deteriorating situation” and violence in and around the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. 

According to the spokesperson Stephane Dujarric’s statement that Guterres is 100 percent actively engaged with politicians and leaders to do all they can to lower tensions, avoid provocative actions and rhetoric and restore calm.

Furthermore, he added that motivations must need to stop immediately. He added that the ongoing holy days for Muslims, Jews, and Christians should be a period and time of peace and reflection, not incitement and violence.

The UN chief also repeated that the status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem must be upheld and respected.

“He is committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict based on applicable United Nations resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements.

“The Secretary-General also reaffirms the need in order to avoid the extreme use of force and stop all unilateral measures, like settlements and evictions, that can undermine the two-state solution,” said in a statement.

Moreover, the tensions have been running high all over the Palestinian territories since the starting period of April following repeated Israeli arrest campaigns in the occupied West Bank. 

Hundreds of Thousands of Palestinian worshippers were injured on Friday when Israeli forces stormed the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem. 

Daily immigrant attacks on the site to celebrate the week-long Jewish Passover holiday have further angered the circumstances.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world’s third holiest site and place for Muslims. 

Jews name the area the Temple Mount, arguing it was the site of two Jewish temples in old times.

Israel settled in East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa was found, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. It annexed the whole city in 1980, in a move never acknowledged by the international community.