The European Union today called for de-escalating the situation in East Jerusalem, 0particularly at Al-Aqsa Mosque, and to respect the status quo at the Muslim holy site.
A statement by the EU spokesperson said the tensions and violence in the occupied West Bank, particularly in East Jerusalem, have dangerously risen over the past days, particularly following last night’s Israeli police raid of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, also known as al-Haram Al-Sharif.
“The European Union calls on the authorities to act urgently to de-escalate the current tensions in Jerusalem,” said the spokesperson. “[T]he status quo has to be respected.”
The EU spokesperson said political, religious and community leaders on all sides should show restraint and responsibility and make every effort to calm down this volatile situation.
“The situation with regard to the evictions of Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah and other areas of East Jerusalem is also of serious concern. Such actions are illegal under international humanitarian law and only serve to fuel tensions on the ground,” concluded the statement.
Source: Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA