America has called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet his commitments to maintain the status quo for sacred placesThis came after Israel’s new far-right minister of national security, Itamar Ben Gvir, visited the Al-Aqsa mosque compound.
“The United States strongly supports maintaining the status quo by respecting the holy places in Jerusalem,” US presidential spokeswoman Karen Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday.
“Any unilateral step that endangers the status quo is unacceptable,” he added.
And he stressed that the United States calls on Prime Minister Netanyahu to maintain his commitment to the status quo of holy sites.
For his part, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a separate statement that the US was “extremely concerned” following Ben Gvir’s move.
He felt that “the visit could exacerbate tensions and spark violence”.
He announced that Washington held “direct talks today with representatives of the Israeli prime minister’s office regarding this visit.”
In addition, an official from Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office said that the latter is committed to preserving the status quo in the Al-Aqsa mosque, after the minister of national security stormed the courtyards of Al -Aqsa amid heavy security measures, in a move that was condemned by the Palestinian presidency and Arab countries.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry has expressed the Kingdom’s condemnation of the Israeli official’s provocative practices. In a statement, the ministry expressed the kingdom’s regret over Israeli practices that undermine international peace efforts and contradict international principles and norms regarding religious sanctity.
The Jordanian Foreign Ministry has summoned the Israeli ambassador to protest Ben Gvir’s storming of the Al-Aqsa mosque. The ministry said this provocative step is condemned and represents a flagrant and unacceptable violation of international law.
The statement added that continued violations and attacks on sanctities warn of a further escalation, which the international community must stop immediately. The Jordanian Foreign Ministry held Israel fully responsible for the dangerous consequences of this escalation.
While Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and the League of Arab States have condemned the assault.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned Israeli Security Minister Ben Gvir’s assault on the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa mosque, describing it as an unprecedented provocation.
He also confirmed that this assault legitimized further incursions and the violation of the Al-Aqsa mosque by settlers, holding the Netanyahu government responsible for its consequences.
And Ben Gvir stormed the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa mosque on Tuesday morning, under the strict protection of the Israeli police, and without warning.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health said Israeli forces killed a child during their raid on Bethlehem.
