UN Security Council to Have Emergency Meeting on Israel, Palestinians
Tensions have been rising for days after Israel installed metal detectors at a site sacred to both Muslims and Jews, the Old City shrine in Jerusalem
The United Nations Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting for Monday to discuss the recent violence between Israelis and Palestinians — the most brutal fighting between the rivals in years. Israel said Sunday it has arrested at least 25 people, including members of a Hamas militant group, whom it believes participated in the recent skirmishes. Clashes erupted late Saturday in the Old City of Jerusalem, where hundreds of Muslim men defiantly held evening prayers outside after being denied entrance to the holy site Muslims call Noble Sanctuary and Jews call Temple Mount. The men objected to recently installed metal detectors. The Israeli military chief who oversees the defense body for Palestinian civilian affairs says Israel is open to discussing alternatives to the new security devices that were installed after two Israeli police officers were killed at the sacred site. Major General Yoav Modechai said, “The only thing we want is to ensure no one can enter with weapons again and carry out another attack.” The Islamic institutions in Jerusalem said in a statement Sunday they “affirm the categorical rejection of the electronic gates and all the measures of occupation.” Israeli officials said Saturday they searched the West Bank home of a Palestinian attacker who entered a Jewish home and stabbed to death three Israelis during their dinner. Two of the victims died Friday soon after the attack in the area known as Neve Tsuf, north of Ramallah. Another victim died later in the day. The assailant was shot by Israeli police and is hospitalized in Israel. He has been identified as 20-year-old Omar al-Abed. Officials have arrested his brother, searched his family home in the West Bank, and taken steps to have it demolished. While Israeli security officers were at al-Abed’s family home, Palestinian onlookers gathered to throw stones and burn tires in protest. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denounced the attack on the Israeli family as “an act of terror, carried out by an animal who was incited with unfathomable hatred.” On Friday, Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmood Abbas announced he would freeze ties with Israel until metal detectors at the holy site are removed.