Saudi Arabia denounces Israeli actions at Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa mosque

Saudi’s King Salman has 'called for serious and speedy international efforts' and for the intervention of the UN Security Council.

RIYADH // Saudi Arabia on Thursday denounced Israel’s violations of Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, which has seen days of clashes between Israeli police and stone-throwing Palestinians.

An official described the Israeli actions as an aggression which would “lead to grave consequences and contribute to feeding extremism and violence”, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Israel’s actions were a “flagrant violation” of the sanctity of the site, which is revered by Muslims as well as by Jews, the official said.

Saudi’s King Salman also “called for serious and speedy international efforts and for the intervention of the Security Council to take all urgent measures to stop these violations”, SPA said.

On Tuesday, Israeli police fired stun grenades and tear gas at rock-throwing Palestinians who barricaded themselves inside Al Aqsa mosque.

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 Saudi foreign minister Adel Al Jubeir to take all necessary measures to protect Al Aqsa, the Palestinian news agency Wafa said.

The White House has expressed deep concern 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 the 1967 Arab-Israeli 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.

* Reuters and Agence France-Presse