(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) The UN's top Middle East envoy on Monday expressed concern about recent clashes between Palestinian civilians and Israeli soldiers in occupied East Jerusalem's sensitive Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
"Provocative actions and language carry the seed of violence and ultimately undermine the ability of worshippers of all faiths to have access to their respective holy sites," Nickolay Mladenov said in a written statement. "Respect for the status quo is in the interest of all and is essential for stability."
On Sunday, dozens of Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers were reportedly injured in a violent confrontation that followed the early morning arrival of extremist Jewish settlers backed by Israeli security forces to the compound to mark a religious day of mourning.
"About 140 settlers, accompanied by about 40 Israeli police and Special Forces troops, forced their way into the mosque compound via the Al-Magharbeh Gate," said Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib, director-general of the Organization for Muslim Endowments and al-Aqsa Affairs, a Palestinian NGO.
Israeli forces, he said, had fired rubber bullets and teargas at 300 Muslim worshipers who had gathered near the Al-Qibali and Al-Aqsa mosques to protest the settlers' arrival.
He added that about 25 Palestinians were injured by rubber bullets, while at least 45 others suffered teargas inhalation.
Israeli media, meanwhile, reported that four Israeli soldiers had been hurt in the melee, with two receiving treatment at a hospital.
"I call upon all religious and political leaders to prevent extremist elements from abusing the sanctity of holy sites and the different religious sentiments of all people", Mladenov said.
In recent months, groups of extremist Jewish settlers € often accompanied by Israeli security forces € have repeatedly forced their way into the Al-Aqsa complex. The frequent violations anger occasionally led to violent confrontations.
For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents the world's third holiest site. Jews refer to the area as the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two prominent Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East War. It later annexed the city in 1980 and declared it as its capital, in a move never recognized by the international community.
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