Palestine and Jordan on Tuesday requested an emergency meeting at the UN Security Council to discuss Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's visit to Al Aqsa compound in Jerusalem.
In a letter shared with The National, Palestine's ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour urged the world body to “unequivocally condemn these illegal and dangerous actions and demand that Israel, the occupying power, cease its violations and assaults on this holy site and fully comply with its obligations under international law”.
“The Security Council cannot remain a bystander in the face of this perilous situation and must make its voice heard and assert its authority,” Mr Mansour wrote in the letter delivered to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Security Council members.
Only urgent, serious action can avert the potential of a “violent explosion and religious war”, he added.
The issue is likely to come up when the Security Council convenes on Thursday to discuss Middle East affairs.
The UN's Arab Group, led by Palestine for the month of January, is expected to convene on Thursday in New York to discuss the next steps in response to Mr Ben-Gvir's visit.
Al Aqsa Mosque is the third-holiest place in Islam and has been a frequent flashpoint in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Under a long-standing status quo, non-Muslims can visit the site at specific times but are not allowed to pray there.
Mr Mansour told The National that he hopes Security Council members will act “in the way they see fit”.
Israeli police confront Palestinian protesters at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque in May — in pictures
Mr Guterres has called on all to refrain from actions “that could escalate tensions in and around the holy sites”, said his deputy spokesman, Farhan Haq.
He also encouraged “the parties to continue on the path towards resuming talks towards a two-state solution and to avoid any rhetoric that would make that task more difficult”.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price on Tuesday said that Washington officials had spoken to their Israeli counterparts in the hours following Mr Ben-Gvir's visit.
“This visit has the potential to exacerbate tensions and to provoke violence,” Mr Price told reporters on Tuesday, reiterating that Washington “stands firmly for preservation of the historic status quo” of Jerusalem's holy sites — a sentiment echoed by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who stated that a change to the status quo of Jerusalem's holy sites would be “unacceptable”.
But Mr Price dodged questions about what specific actions, if any, Washington would take in response to the visit.
The UAE was among several Gulf countries to condemn the visit.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation called on Israel to “assume responsibility for reducing escalation and instability in the region”.
The ministry “reiterated its firm position on the need to provide full protection for Al Aqsa Mosque and halt serious and provocative violations taking place there”.
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
West Indies v India - Third ODI
India 251-4 (50 overs)
Dhoni (78*), Rahane (72), Jadhav (40)
Cummins (2-56), Bishoo (1-38)
West Indies 158 (38.1 overs)
Mohammed (40), Powell (30), Hope (24)
Ashwin (3-28), Yadav (3-41), Pandya (2-32)
India won by 93 runs
Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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RESULT
Leeds United 1 Manchester City 1
Leeds: Rodrigo (59')
Man City: Sterling (17')
Man of the Match: Rodrigo Moreno (Leeds)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
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Results
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500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
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- Golden circle - Dh995
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Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
The%20specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E261hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400Nm%20at%201%2C750-4%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.5L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C999%20(VX%20Luxury)%3B%20from%20Dh149%2C999%20(VX%20Black%20Gold)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Director: James Cameron
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So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5