Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahudeclared that Israel is seeking calm to prevail after Clashes erupted between police and Muslim worshipers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem last night.

“Israel is committed to ensuring freedom of religion, free access for all religions and the status quo and will not allow violent extremists to change that,” the prime minister said in a statement.

Recall that on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, violent incidents broke out between Israeli police and believers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third most important Islamic place of worship, raising fears of a further escalation of tensions, since this year coincides with Ramadan, the Jewish holiday . and Christian Easter.

The Arab League is holding an emergency meeting today at its request. Jordanguardian of the Muslim shrines of Jerusalem

“The extreme approach that guides the policy of the Israeli government will lead to large-scale conflicts with the Palestinians, if not reversed,” said Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abu Hayit.

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Berlin expressed concern after the clashes and urged “everyone who has influence on the situation to do everything to restore calm.”

Government spokesman Christopher Berger urged all parties “not to add fuel to the fire.”

Jordan, the guardian of holy sites in Jerusalem, called on Israeli forces to immediately withdraw from the mosque, while Saudi Arabia indicated that it “categorically rejects” any action that violates “international principles and rules governing respect for religion.”

OUR Egyptthe traditional mediator between Israel and the Palestinians, announced that he considered “Israel the occupying power and responsible for this dangerous escalation, which could undermine efforts to reach a truce.”

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called the clashes at the Al-Aqsa Mosque “unacceptable” and that they took place “in violation of the sacred nature” of the site.

“We strongly condemn these attacks,” the minister said, speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.

“The normalization of relations with Israel has begun, but our commitment cannot be at the expense of the Palestinian cause and our principles,” he continued, assessing that “these attacks have crossed a line.”

Condemning this “unprecedented crime,” the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, has called on West Bank Palestinians to “go en masse to the Al-Aqsa Islamic Mosque to protect it.”

Source: APE-MPE-AFP-Reuters