Israel says there is no change to status-quo at Jerusalem mosque compound

Dome of the Rock is seen from inside Al-Aqsa Mosque via a doorway to the compound identified to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount, in Jerusalem’s Outdated Metropolis November 16, 2021. Image taken November 16, 2021. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

JERUSALEM, April 21 (Reuters) – Israel stated on Thursday it was imposing a long-standing ban on Jewish prayer on the compound of Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, rejecting an Arab League accusation that it was permitting such worship to happen.

Violence on the compound, revered in Judaism because the Temple Mount and by Muslims because the Noble Sanctuary, has surged over the previous week, elevating considerations a few slide again into wider Israeli-Palestinian battle.

Israeli safety forces have been on excessive alert with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan coinciding with the Jewish vacation Passover and Christianity’s Easter.

The Arab League stated Israel has damaged the established order and was permitting Jews to wish on the compound, calling it a “provocation.” Israel, nonetheless, stated there was no change in its long-standing ban on Jewish prayer on the flashpoint web site.

“Israel is sustaining the established order, which incorporates the liberty of prayer for Muslims and the best to go to for non-Muslims. The police implement the ban on Jewish prayer,” stated Lior Haiat, a spokesperson for Israel’s Overseas Ministry.

“Over the previous few years, Israel is just not permitting Jews to go to the Temple Mount over the last 10 days of Ramadan to stop any friction,” he stated.

That 10-day interval begins on Friday.

A U.S. State Division delegation met individually with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to attempt to ease tensions.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas informed the delegation that Israel was accountable for the escalation and requested that america intervene, in line with a Palestinian Authority official.

Israeli Overseas Minister Yair Lapid mentioned with the U.S. envoys “Israel’s efforts on this very difficult interval to protect the established order on the Temple Mount,” and known as on regional leaders to assist restore calm, in line with a ministry assertion.

The way forward for Jerusalem is on the coronary heart of the Israeli-Palestinian battle. The Outdated Metropolis is in East Jerusalem, captured by Israel in a 1967 struggle and annexed in a transfer that has not received worldwide recognition.

Palestinians need East Jerusalem to be the capital of a state they search to determine within the occupied West Financial institution and Gaza.

Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch, Nidal al-Mughrabi and Ali Sawafta; Modifying by Leslie Adler and Jonathan Oatis

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