International
Security Council stresses need to preserve status quo in Al-Aqsa Mosque
January 06, 2023 | 01:39 PM
Members of UN Security Council stressed the need to preserve the status quo in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem, this came days after the Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir stormed the mosque.Last night, the council held an emergency session to discuss the Israeli entity's violation of the status quo in Jerusalem, at a joint Palestinian-Jordanian request.Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations Riyad Mansour said that the Israeli entity has shown complete disregard for the sanctity of Palestinian life, international law, and the sanctity and sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, yet the Security Council remains silent."What are the red lines that Israel must cross for the Security Council to act" he added, " accusing Israel of contempt for the Palestinian people, the world and the entire international community. He pointed out that the Palestinian people began to lose patience, and the moderation and responsibility that they show must not be understood as coming from a position of weakness, and Israel's insistence on the path of escalation does not lead to peace, and whoever wants peace must act now.For his part, Assistant Secretary-General of Political and Peacebuilding Affair Khaled Al Khiari, expressed concern about the events of the past week in Jerusalem, reiterating the Secretary-General's call for all parties to refrain from steps that would escalate tensions in and around the holy sites, and for all to maintain the status quo.Al Khiari pointed out that this is the first intrusion into the site by an Israeli minister since 2017, noting that, however, it is considered a provocation that "may foretell an outbreak of violence," given Ben- Gvir's previous call to change the status quo.For his part, Alternate Representative of the United States of America in the United Nations Robert Wood said that Washington is committed to the two-state solution and that it is concerned about any unilateral actions that exacerbate tensions or undermine the possibility of a two-state solution.In turn, China's Permanent Representative to the UN Zhang Jun said that any unilateral actions or actions in the holy places would escalate tensions and problems, which could herald clashes and confrontations because this matter affects the religious status of religious sites.The storming of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli National Security Minister in the government of the Israeli entity Itamar Ben Gvir on Tuesday, was met with widespread Arab, Islamic and international condemnation.
January 06, 2023 | 01:39 PM