Brussels, 15/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 15 September, the European Union criticised the escalation in violence on the Esplanade of Mosques/Temple Mount in Jerusalem, in the Middle East.
“The violence and escalation [of the situation] are a provocation” in this period of important Jewish (New Year) and Muslim feasts, said Maja Kocijancic, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. “It is crucial that all sides show calm, restraint and full respect for the status quo of the holy sites”, she added.
Mogherini's spokesperson reiterated the conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council on 17 November, which stated that the EU called for the full respect of the holy sites, and that any change in the status quo would have deeply destabilising effects (see EUROPE 11199).
For the third consecutive day on 15 September, clashes took place between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers on the Esplanade of Mosques/Temple Mount. Young Palestinians hid in the al-Aqsa Mosque to prevent Jewish visitors coming to prayer on the Esplanade because, in the opinion of the young Palestinians, this is sacrilege. According to the status quo that has existed for decades, Jews and tourists can only visit the Esplanade at certain times on certain specific days. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)