US Says ‘Deeply Concerned’ Over Jerusalem Escalation

USA said this Friday to be “deeply concerned” by the escalation of violence experienced this Good Friday in East Jerusalem and urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to collaborate to reduce tensions.

“We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoid provocative actions and rhetoric, and preserve the ‘status quo’ on Haram al Sharif/Temple Mount,” the US State Department said in a statement.

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US diplomacy urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to work together to reduce tensions.

The State Department said it is monitoring the situation closely and is in contact with “high-ranking” Israeli and Palestinian officials to prevent further escalation of violence.

At least 153 Palestinians and three Israeli policemen were injured during clashes on the Temple Mount in occupied East Jerusalem today, coinciding with the second Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Today’s events take place within a framework of growing tension in the region, after a week of much violence in the occupied West Bank, where the Israeli Army has carried out multiple raids after a series of Palestinian attacks in recent weeks.

This morning a 17-year-old minor died as a result of injuries sustained yesterday in clashes with Israeli security forces, bringing the number of Palestinians killed in violent episodes in the West Bank in the last two days to seven.

Until today, the city of Jerusalem had been left out of the main incidents of recent weeks, which included four serious attacks in Israel and multiple military operations in West Bank territory.

Source: Elcomercio

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