The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, explained, on Monday 10 May, that the European Foreign Ministers, meeting in Brussels, were “deeply concerned” about the clashes and violence in Jerusalem, especially in and around the Haram Al-Sharif/Temple Mount.
More than 300 people were reportedly injured on Monday, “Jerusalem Day”, which, according to the Hebrew calendar, marks the conquest of East Jerusalem for Israel.
“It is clear that all parties must fully respect the status quo of the holy place and have the responsibility to fight extremists”, he stressed after the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU. “It is important that everything is done to avoid fuelling tensions on the ground”, Mr Borrell added.
The High Representative therefore welcomed the intention to prevent Jewish worshippers from entering the Esplanade as a positive step that could calm the situation.
Like his spokesperson over the weekend, Mr Borrell denounced the eviction of Palestinian families from homes they have lived in for generations in the East Jerusalem neighbourhoods of Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan. He warned that “such actions are illegal under international humanitarian law and only serve to increase tensions on the ground”.
Earlier in the day, upon his arrival at the EU Council, Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva had called for appeasement. “Violence is the enemy of peace”, he warned. For him, it is necessary for all moderates to try to take control of the situation and fight any kind of violence.
On Saturday 8 May, the Middle East Quartet envoys stressed that “all leaders have a responsibility to act against extremists and to denounce all acts of violence and incitement”. They also called on the Israeli authorities to exercise restraint and avoid any measures that could aggravate the situation during the Muslim holiday period. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)