arab praying on floor in front of closed gate in old city

UN warns Jerusalem mosque crisis needs urgent de-escalation

SBS World News Radio: The United Nations has warned of escalating danger if a crisis over new security measures at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem isn’t resolved by Friday.

The United Nations Middle East envoy says a crisis over new security measures at a volatile Jerusalem holy site must be swiftly resolved.

A week of deadly violence has resulted in Israeli and Palestinian fatalities, after metal detectors were installed by Israel at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound.

Nikolay Mladenov privately briefed the 15-member UN Security Council, afterwards saying it’s critically important to preserve the status quo, in place at the holy site since 1967.

“I call on the parties to refrain from provocative actions, show restraint and work towards finding a solution. It is extremely important that a solution to the current crisis be found by Friday this week. I think the dangers on the ground will escalate if we go through another cycle of Friday prayer without a resolution to this current crisis.”

The site, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and Jews as the Temple Mount, is central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Over a week ago, three men described by police as “Israeli Arabs” shot and killed two Israeli police officers near the compound.

 

Read the full transcript or listen to the audio of the news report at SBS News.