Abbas adviser says PA consulting with Arab countries over Temple Mount

A top adviser to the Palestinian president says they are holding a series of consultations with various countries to try to lower tensions in Jerusalem over the Temple Mount.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s diplomatic adviser, Majdi al-Khalidi, says Sunday the Palestinians are coordinating with Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco and others.

Abbas announced Friday he would “freeze” ties with Israel “on all levels” until the new security measures Israel imposed at the site after a deadly shooting there were removed. He did not say whether this means halting security coordination, which would have far-reaching repercussions and sharply raise tensions with Israel.

The site is administered by Muslim authorities under the auspices of Jordan but Israel maintains security control of the compound.

— AP