RAMALLAH
By Anees Barghouthy
The Palestinian Authority (PA) on Sunday lauded a call by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Knesset members to work to calm tensions around Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, saying the call is a "step in the right direction."
“Al-Aqsa is of a major religious significance to Muslims around the world, and an atmosphere of calm must be maintained around it," the PA presidency said in a statement.
The presidency went on to warn that violations and provocations of Jewish extremists in the holy site might lead to "dangerous consequences" that will impact the whole region.
"These actions might fuel instability and tension in Palestine and the region, and this is not what we want," it added.
Netanyahu on Saturday called on Israeli ministers and Knesset members to work towards calming tension around the holy site.
Tensions ran high over the weekend in East Jerusalem as Israel closed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Thursday, shortly after the shooting of an extremist Jewish rabbi in the city.
Israeli authorities reopened Al-Aqsa on Friday following a day of violent clashes with Palestinian protesters, but barred male worshippers under 50 years old from entering the religious site.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, for his part, warned that the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound constituted a "declaration of war" against the Palestinian people and their sacred places.
For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents the world's third holiest site. Jews, for their part, refer to the area as the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East War. It later annexed the holy city in 1980, claiming it as the capital of the self-proclaimed Jewish state – a move never recognized by the international community.
In September 2000, a visit to the site by controversial Israeli politician Ariel Sharon sparked what later became known as the "Second Intifada," a popular uprising against the Israeli occupation in which thousands of Palestinians were killed.
www.aa.com.tr/en
