Abbas to Freeze Contacts With Israel Until Recent Decisions on 'Al Aqsa' Backtracked
The statement comes after a day of clashes in which three Palestinians were killed and dozens injured amid Temple Mount tensions
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas gives a speech during a meeting of Palestinian leadership in the West Bank city of Ramallah on July 21, 2017, during which he announced freezing contacts with Israe ABBAS MOMANI/AFP
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said on Friday that all contacts with Israel will cease until Israel removes metal detectors from the Temple Mount and backtracks its recent moves regarding the Temple Mount.
The Palestinian leader also called on Hamas to seize the opportunity for Palestinian national reconciliation.
The statement came after a day of violence in which three Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded in a spate of clashes in Jeruaslem and the West Bank following Friday prayers.
The Palestinian premier said that he would dedicate $55 million to supporting Palestinians in East Jerusalem and called on all Palestinians to donate a day's earnings.
Abbas said that he spoke with numerous heads of state including Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Morocco, and asked them to intervene with Israel in order to cancel the steps it has taken.
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Furthermore, Abbas called for the release of all Palestinian prisoners and said that the Palestinian Authority will foot the bill for treatment of all those wounded in today's clashes.
Egypt's Foreign Ministry released a statement on Friday calling on Israel to cease violence and any actions that may lead to an escalation.
According the statement, Egypt called on Israel to respect the holy sites and the right of Palestinians to freedom of worship without restriction, and to remove anything that would lead to a further confrontation. Tensions escalated at the Temple Mount after Israeli authorities took the decision to install metal detectors at entrances to the site after an attack on Sunday by three Israeli-Arabs that left two police officers dead.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry called on the Israeli government to adopt a "policy of common sense" in order to prevent a deterioration that will only serve to hamper efforts to renew the political process.
The Egyptian call for calm joined a chorus of statements released by other countries following Friday's events. France's Foreign Ministry released a statement saying it was concerned by the violence and called on both parties to avoid anything that would change the status quo. A joint statement by Jordan and the United Arab Emirates also urged an end to tensions at the Temple Mount. Kuwait meanwhile condemned Israel's actions and called for international intervention.
Jack Khoury
Haaretz Correspondentrue
The statement comes after a day of clashes in which three Palestinians were killed and dozens injured amid Temple Mount tensions
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas gives a speech during a meeting of Palestinian leadership in the West Bank city of Ramallah on July 21, 2017, during which he announced freezing contacts with Israe ABBAS MOMANI/AFP
Live updates Temple Mount crisis: Three Palestinians killed, 'over 300 wounded' in East Jerusalem, West Bank
Fragile calm falls over Jerusalem after day of violence over Temple Mount – but will it hold?
Analysis Temple Mount protests could turn into an intifada in the blink of an eye
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said on Friday that all contacts with Israel will cease until Israel removes metal detectors from the Temple Mount and backtracks its recent moves regarding the Temple Mount.
The Palestinian leader also called on Hamas to seize the opportunity for Palestinian national reconciliation.
The statement came after a day of violence in which three Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded in a spate of clashes in Jeruaslem and the West Bank following Friday prayers.
The Palestinian premier said that he would dedicate $55 million to supporting Palestinians in East Jerusalem and called on all Palestinians to donate a day's earnings.
Abbas said that he spoke with numerous heads of state including Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Morocco, and asked them to intervene with Israel in order to cancel the steps it has taken.
Keep updated: Sign up to our newsletter
Email* Sign up
Furthermore, Abbas called for the release of all Palestinian prisoners and said that the Palestinian Authority will foot the bill for treatment of all those wounded in today's clashes.
Egypt's Foreign Ministry released a statement on Friday calling on Israel to cease violence and any actions that may lead to an escalation.
According the statement, Egypt called on Israel to respect the holy sites and the right of Palestinians to freedom of worship without restriction, and to remove anything that would lead to a further confrontation. Tensions escalated at the Temple Mount after Israeli authorities took the decision to install metal detectors at entrances to the site after an attack on Sunday by three Israeli-Arabs that left two police officers dead.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry called on the Israeli government to adopt a "policy of common sense" in order to prevent a deterioration that will only serve to hamper efforts to renew the political process.
The Egyptian call for calm joined a chorus of statements released by other countries following Friday's events. France's Foreign Ministry released a statement saying it was concerned by the violence and called on both parties to avoid anything that would change the status quo. A joint statement by Jordan and the United Arab Emirates also urged an end to tensions at the Temple Mount. Kuwait meanwhile condemned Israel's actions and called for international intervention.
Jack Khoury
Haaretz Correspondentrue
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