Arab League warns of Jerusalem ‘red line’
Official alerts Israel to ‘untold consequences’ after perceived attempts at Jewish takeover of Temple Mount
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CAIRO — The Arab League warned Sunday that Israel has reached a “red line” after fresh clashes in Jerusalem, urging international pressure to stop what it branded “violations” in the holy city.
Clashes around the flashpoint Temple Mount and the al-Aqsa Mosque compound — the third holiest site in Islam and Judaism’s holiest — prompted Israel on Thursday to close the site for a day.
The Temple Mount and adjacent neighborhoods have seen months of violence, with the mosque compound a rallying point for Palestinian resistance to perceived Jewish attempts to take control of it.
“Israel has reached a red line,” Arab League deputy chief Ahmed Bin Helli said after an assembly of the 22-member bloc’s delegates.
He called on Arabs and the international community “to put a stop to these practices by the Israeli occupation authorities in Jerusalem.”
“Touching Jerusalem will lead to results with untold consequences,” he added.
On Sunday, Israeli far-right lawmaker Moshe Feiglin visited the compound, pressing for Jews to be allowed to pray there.
He was met with protests from Muslims crying “Allahu akbar,” which means “God is great” in Arabic.
The United States on Thursday urged all sides in Jerusalem to exercise restraint in the holy city, and said it was working with Israelis, Palestinians and Jordanians to try to restore calm.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also urged his cabinet and lawmakers Sunday to avoid moves that could increase tensions, and said Israel was not seeking to change the status quo at the holy site.
The Palestinians want East Jerusalem, including al-Aqsa, as the capital of their future state. Israel considers East Jerusalem, captured in 1967, to be part of its “eternal” capital.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.