Emergency Arab committee meeting on Jerusalem warns of ‘cycle of violence’

Palestinians watch as Israeli security forces patrol near Damascus Gate, just outside Jerusalem's Old City, on April 20, 2022. (AP/Mahmoud Illean)
Palestinians watch as Israeli security forces patrol near Damascus Gate, just outside Jerusalem's Old City, on April 20, 2022. (AP/Mahmoud Illean)

An emergency meeting of a regional Arab committee convenes in Jordan over what it calls “illegal Israeli policies and measures” in Jerusalem.

It condemns actions taken by Israel on the Temple Mount, calling them provocative, and it calls on Israel to ensure that only Muslims worship at the site. Recent days have seen clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police officers at the holy site.

“The committee warned that these attacks and violations represent a blatant provocation to the feelings of Muslims,” according to Jordan’s Petra news agency, adding that it “threatens to ignite a cycle of violence.” Police actions to quell riots at the al-Aqsa Mosque atop the Mount last year were among the triggers of an 11-day war in Gaza last May.

The committee includes member countries that recently normalized ties with Israel, including the United Arab Emirates and Morocco. Tunisia, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority also took part.

Most Popular