Palestinians gather near Jerusalem’s Old City as they enter the Al Aqsa Mosque following the removal of Israel's restrictions at the entrances to Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on July 28, 2017. (Enes Canl? - Anadolu Agency)
Arab League Council has strongly condemned the serious Israeli escalation in the occupied city of Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque, expressing absolute rejection to Israeli measures that aim to change the current historic and legal status in clear violation of its legal and international responsibilities as an occupation force.
In a resolution issued at the end of its emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss the recent developments, the council demanded that Al Aqsa Mosque not be closed again in the future and called for halting to all forms of escalation.
The council reaffirmed that all the measures taken by Israel as an occupation force to change the current historic and legal status in Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque are void and must be abolished in line with relevant international resolutions and conventions.
The council urged the United Nations Security Council to assume its responsibilities and implement its relevant resolutions on East Jerusalem and compel Israel to stop its policy and continuous attacks on East Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque, which constitute grave violations of international laws and resolutions.
The council called on all countries to implement the resolutions issued by the United Nations and the UNESCO Executive Council on the Palestinian issue, including the World Heritage Committee, which confirmed that Al Aqsa Mosque is a Muslim site and a World Heritage Site. It also condemned the Israeli attacks and illegal measures in Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque.
The Arab League Council also affirmed its support for the steps adopted by the Palestinian leadership to protect Al Aqsa Mosque.
The council stressed full support for the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their institutions in the occupied city of Jerusalem and their defense of the city and its Muslim and Christian holy sites, notably Al Aqsa Mosque, in the face of Israeli violations and attempts to change the current historic and legal status of the city.
