World Jewish News

EU calls on Israel and Jordan to work together 'to ensure security for all and uphold the status quo' on Temple Mount

‘’We encourage Israel and Jordan to work together to find solutions that ensure security for all, respect the sanctity of the holy site and uphold the status quo, noting the special role of the Hashemite Kingdom as recognised in its peace treaty with Israel,’’ says a European Union spokesperson in a statement on the latest developments in and around the Old City of Jerusalem and in the West Bank, stressing that they ‘’pose a real risk of further escalation.’’

Three Israelis were murdered at their Shabbat dinner table in a terror attack by a young Palestinian in the West Bank settlement of Halamish, located northwest of Ramallah. ‘’Nothing can justify such a despicable crime,’’ the spokesperson said.

Three Palestinians were killed during violent clashes with Israeli security forces. ‘’ These incidents must be fully investigated,’’ the spokesperson said.

‘’It is now vital that all political, religious and community leaders act responsibly, restore calm and avoid any steps or rhetoric that could further increase tensions. Continued cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority is crucially important to prevent further violence and loss of life,’’ the EU spokesperson added.

Observers noted that the EU statement mentioned first that the three Palestinians were killed before citing the murder of the three Israelis by a Palestinian terorist.

The Middle East diplomatic Quartet expressed concern about escalating violence in Jerusalem and called on all sides to “demonstrate maximum restraint”.

The Quartet comprises the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations.

The violence started after Israel reopened the entrance to the Temple Mount but installed metal detectors as an extra security measure after two police officers were shot and killed in a shooting attack last week. Israeli police released a video this week showing the three attackers entering the Temple Mount and an accomplice carrying their weapons and leaving them in a bag at the Al Aqsa mosque that they picked up before carrying out the attack.

Officials from the Waqf, the Muslim council that administers the Temple Mount site, encouraged groups of worshippers to pray outside the entrance and refuse to enter through the metal detectors.

Israeli government social media channels emphasized why the new measures were needed and explained that similar measures were in place at the Western Wall and mosques and holy sites across the Middle East.

The use of metal detectors in no way infringes upon the rights of worshipers and in no way disrespects them or the site. Metal detectors or other security measures, including physical searches and cameras, are widely used in holy sites of different religions around the world to protect visitors and to prevent indiscriminate terror attack. These include the nearby Western Wall in Jerusalem, the Vatican, and the Kaaba in Mecca.

EJP