KING SALMAN TALKS TO WORLD LEADERS ON FLAGRANT ISRAELI AGGRESSION
Jeddah, 4 Dzulhijjah 1436/18 September 2015 (MINA) – The Kingdom has denounced violations by Israeli forces of Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites, which has seen days of clashes between Israeli police and stone-throwing Palestinians.
The Saudi Press Agency quoted an official source describing the Israeli actions as an “aggression” which would “lead to grave consequences and contribute to feeding extremism and violence”, Saudi Gazette quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.
Israel’s actions were also a “flagrant violation” of the sanctity of the site, the official said. The source said the Israeli actions are contrary to all international principles, laws and legislations.
The Kingdom reiterated its absolute rejection of the Israeli occupation and its policy of time-based-division of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
It also called upon the international community to move immediately to compel the Israeli authorities to stop the attack on the Islamic holy sanctuaries and respect religions, international laws and legislations and the principles of the peace process.
On Tuesday, Israeli police fired stun grenades and tear gas at rock-throwing Palestinians who barricaded themselves inside Al-Aqsa mosque.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman had informed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that he had been in contact with world leaders regarding the mosque and that he had asked his Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir to take all necessary measures to protect Al-Aqsa, the Palestinian news agency WAFA said.
In separate telephone calls with President Abbas, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, emir of Qatar; Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan; President Francois Hollande of France, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Russian President Vladimir Putin and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, King Salman stressed the necessity to exert serious and rapid international efforts as well as the necessity for the intervention of the UN Security Council in taking urgent measures to stop Israel’s violation of Al-Aqsa sanctity.
King Salman also called for giving the Palestinian people all their legitimate rights. The White House has said it is deeply concerned about the violence and called on all sides to “exercise restraint and refrain from provocative action and rhetoric”.
Israel captured the site when it seized East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank from Jordan in a 1967 war. It left Al-Aqsa under the religious control of Muslim authorities, but Palestinians fear that control is being eroded by increasing visits by Jewish groups. — With input from Agencies (T/P011/R03)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
