At a Security Council discussion on Israeli-Palestinian violence, the United Nation’s secretary general Ban Ki-moon condemned the torching of the Tomb of Joseph by Palestinians near Nablus. The current crisis can not be resolved by security measures alone, Zerihoun warned.
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The unrest has been triggered in part by Palestinians’ anger over what they see as increased Jewish encroachment on Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque compound, which is also revered by Jews as the location of two destroyed biblical Jewish temples. It is the site where Solomon built a temple to house the Ark of the Covenant and the place where the Prophet Mohammed ascended into heaven.
The stone-throwing, stabbings and shootings has left seven Israelis and 27 Palestinians, including nine alleged attackers and eight children dead since nearly last two weeks.
Israeli authorities Thursday notified the families of three Palestinians, whom Israel accuses of carrying out a fatal attack against an Israeli settler couple near Nablus’ Beit Furik area, of their intentions to demolish their homes.
Those killings followed repeated clashes at east Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque compound in September between Israeli forces and Palestinian youths.
The Israeli military said it was checking the report of the clash.
Israel has released CCTV footage showing what it said were two Palestinian teenagers carrying out a stabbing attack on a 13-year-old Jewish boy in the Pisgat Ze’ev settlement in Jerusalem on October 12.
“This intifada (uprising) will continue in various forms”, Hanani said.
Now located within the Balata refugee camp, the small structure features Islamic architecture, capped by a white dome that was first restored in the 19th Century.
Abbas has called for peaceful protest, but had not explicitly condemned any attacks in the recent wave of unrest until Friday’s statement on the holy site.
He said the arson “offends our culture and our religion and our morals”, and that the damage would be repaired.
The Israeli people want peace with the Palestinians but the continued violence is being fueled by Palestinian leaders.
Jews visit the tomb under IDF escort at night to pray.
Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an Israeli army spokesman, said the attack violates freedom of worship and that the military will “bring the perpetrators of this despicable act to justice”.
The director-general of Israel’s foreign ministry, Dore Gold, said: “The burning of Joseph’s tomb forcefully demonstrates what would happen in the holy places in Jerusalem if they were in the hands of the Palestinian leadership”.
A Palestinian man wearing a yellow vest with the word “press” written on it stabbed and wounded an Israeli soldier.
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An Associated Press photographer at the scene witnessed the stabbing and then heard several gunshots.
