Erekat: Violence is Israeli response to peace overtures

Ma'an
Violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is Israel's answer to the Arab League's offer to renew peace negotiations, chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erakat alleged on Friday, as dozens of Palestinians and Israeli police officers were injured in Jerusalem.

"We see this aggression against our people and holy sites as the Israeli response," Erekat said in a statement, condemning a raid on the yards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, during which Israeli forces fired rubber-coated bullets at protesting worshipers.

An estimated 200 police officers fired tear gas, rubber-coated bullets, and stun grenades as Palestinians threw rocks, witnesses said. The raid, which left as many as 60 Palestinians and 18 Israeli police officers injured, was sparked by confrontations at the Haram Ash-Sharif, or noble sanctuary, which houses the mosque, the third holiest site in Islam that is also revered by Jews.

The violence follows last week's announcement of Israel's intention to construct more housing units in settlements in occupied East Jerusalem as well Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement that Israel would keep the Jordan Valley under its control under any hypothetical peace agreement.

Erekat pointed out that it also comes as the Israeli government adopted a plan to include Palestinian religious and heritage sites on the Israeli national heritage list. "Today's aggression is simply the conclusion of a week where Israel did everything possible to tell us they are not serious about peace," he said.

"Following Arab willingness to engage in proximity talks towards peace, the ball is now in the court of the international community and the United States to take action in response to Israeli aggression and ensure a conductive environment for peace negotiations," he added.

"This can only be done if Israel is held accountable to international law and its obligations under the Road Map, including a full settlement freeze and end to violence," Erekat concluded.

The top PLO official's remarks came after the Office of the President released a statement demanding an end to "this Israeli adventure, which could spark a religious war in the region."

Mahmoud Abbas' office said "Israeli forces are crossing every red line in an attempt to avoid restarting peace negotiations, especially following the decision by the Arab follow-up committee of the Arab League to resume the peace talks."

In a statement, the office added that "President Abbas is following up the events and their developments at Al-Aqsa and is carrying out contacts to put an end to these provocations."

The presidency called on the international community to curb such incursions, which it said could have dangerous consequences not only in the Middle East, but to international security and peace in general.

The compound, believed to be the location where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven and returned, is also the holiest for Jews, who believe it to be the site of the Second Temple, destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, and is referred to by Israelis as the Temple Mount.

Disturbances at the mosque are a central reason for the escalation of tensions between the two sides, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) said last Monday in a public condemnation of a prior breach of the holy compound.

While Israeli reports of last week's violence placed blame for recent clashes squarely on Palestinians, PCHR investigations affirmed eyewitness accounts and local news coverage contending that hundreds of Israeli settlers and their supporters, escorted by Israeli security forces, had entered the mosque compound.

PCHR condmened the breach in the "strongest possible terms," and further slammed the "use of excessive force" by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians who had gathered inside the mosque or attempted to prevent "the provocative entry of settlers into the mosque."

In its condemnation, the organization noted heightened concerns over Israeli control of traditionally Palestinian holy sites, following the declaration by Netanyahu the previous Sunday, of sites within the West Bank as "Israeli heritage" locations. The move sparked fears that Israeli forces would further limit Palestinian access to the landmarks.

"PCHR strongly condemns all disruptive measures taken by [Israeli forces] in East Jerusalem ... [and] calls upon the international community to immediately intervene to force Israel, the occupying power, to stop such measures."  Full story