UNITED NATIONS, May 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — The high representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), Miguel Moratinos, on Saturday expressed “dismay and deep concern” over the violent clashes in and around Al-Aqsa mosque, Islam’s third holiest site.
Recalling the UN Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites: In Unity & Solidarity for Safe Worship, the high representative, through a press statement, called for respect of the sanctity of religious sites and stressed the right of worshippers to practice their religious rituals and traditions peacefully and safely without fear or intimidation.
The UNAOC chief appealed for peace and respect of the status quo of the Holy Sites in East Jerusalem and wished those who were injured a speedy recovery.
Meanwhile, Libya on Saturday condemned Israeli forces’ storming of the yards of Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem that injured hundreds of Palestinians.
“The State of Libya condemns the occupation forces’ incursion into the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and attack on the safe, unarmed worshipers of the Palestinian people while they perform their religious rituals in the holy month of Ramadan, as well as the practices of the occupation authorities related to the forced eviction of Palestinian families from the holy city of Jerusalem,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“It threatens to escalate the situation and to cause dangerous repercussions that threaten the lives of Palestinian citizens and undermine the possibility of achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the region,” the statement said.
Clashes erupted on Friday when Israeli police forces stormed the yards of Al-Aqsa Mosque and fired rubber bullets and tear gas canisters to disperse demonstrators, leaving at least 205 Palestinians injured, according to Palestinian sources.
Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians have mounted recently as Israel has decided to resettle forcefully Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah, a predominantly Palestinian neighborhood in East Jerusalem. — NNN-XINHUA