Arab League to Discuss Situation in Jerusalem at Ministerial Meeting July 26

Amid violent clashes over access to the Temple Mount's Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, the League of Arab States plans to hold urgent meeting on the situation in the ancient city.

CAIRO (Sputnik) — The League of Arab States will hold an extraordinary ministerial meeting on Wednesday to discuss the situation in the city of Jerusalem, where Israeli authorities stepped up security measures amid a recent attack on policemen, Arab League's spokesman Mahmoud Afifi said Sunday.

"In the light of intensive contacts within 24 hours and Jordan's proposal, which was supported by some member states of the Arab League, the decision has been made to hold an extraordinary meeting at the level of foreign ministers on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 in the afternoon, to discuss aggression and recent measures adopted by Israel in Jerusalem in the area surrounding Al-Aqsa mosque," Afifi's statement read.

On Friday, Arab neighborhoods around the Old City of Jerusalem became the scene of clashes between Israeli police and Muslims, which gathered near the Old City to go to the Temple Mount and pray in Al-Aqsa mosque. Many Muslims refuse to go through the detectors installed at the entrances to the holy site after the July 14 Palestinian attack at the Temple Mount, which claimed lives of two Israeli police officers.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas announced on Friday a freeze of all contacts with Israel over violence in Jerusalem. Some regional states, including Turkey and Jordan, have condemned the measures of the Israeli authorities and called on Tel Aviv to resume the access for Muslims to Al-Aqsa mosque.