MOSCOW, November 15 (Sputnik) — The resolution of the situation with the Temple Mount in East Jerusalem, as well as of the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict, requires concrete steps from Israel, Palestinian Ambassador to Russia Fayed Mustafa told Sputnik in an interview.
The ambassador said the Palestinian Authority expects to see “practical steps from [Israeli] side to give freedom to people to go and pray inside the [Al-Aqsa] mosque.”
Israel also should not allow “extremist groups of the Israeli society” to visit the mosque, according to the ambassador.
“We need to see procedures on the ground. We need to see practical steps, not only the words [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is saying,” Mustafa reiterated.
He added that despite certain steps Israel has made regarding the Al-Aqsa mosque, the overall state of the Palestinians remain critical.
“Israel allowed all ages to enter the mosque, but at the same time they are arresting many of the young Palestinians inside Jerusalem, and they continue the policy of building settlements inside Jerusalem,” the ambassador pointed out.
One of the main reasons for the recently amplified clashes between Arabs and Jews, including riots and terror attacks, is the alleged intention of Israel to re-consider the status quo on the Temple Mount in favor of Jews. However, Israeli authorities have repeatedly stated Israel does not have such plans.
The Al-Aqsa mosque located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem is considered to be Islam’s third holiest site after Mecca and Medina. The site is also holy to Jews. It is governed by the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf trust.
