Israel’s foreign minister accused the Hamas militant group of orchestrating recent unrest at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site, responding to criticism that Israeli police used heavy-handed tactics to quell the violence.
ABC News' Erielle Reshef reports on renewed clashes in Israel and gets an exclusive look at how the Israeli Defense Forces say they are working to prevent attacks while avoiding a larger conflict.JERUSALEM -- Israel’s foreign minister on Sunday accused the Hamas militant group of orchestrating recent unrest at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site, responding to criticism that Israeli police used heavy-handed tactics to quell the violence.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third-holiest site in Islam and an emotional symbol for the Palestinians. It sits on a sprawling esplanade that also is the holiest site for Jews, who call it to the Temple Mount because it was the location of the biblical Jewish Temples. The competing claims to the site lie at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and have sparked numerous rounds of violence in the past.
“There is no change. There will be no change. We have no plans to divide the Temple Mount between religions,” he said. He called on Israel’s allies in the Muslim world to “act against these fake news” and to help calm the situation. “During Ramadan, Israel ensured that hundreds of thousands of Muslims could go to the Temple Mount and pray at Al-Aqsa,” Lapid said. “Despite provocations by terrorist organizations, despite attempts to stoke violence: We have done, and continue to do everything to enable peaceful prayer."
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Israel Closes Gaza Border in Effort to Pressure Hamas to Halt Rocket AttacksIsrael closed its civilian border crossing with the Gaza Strip, preventing thousands of Gazans from getting to work, in Israel in an effort to pressure Gaza’s ruler Hamas to halt rocket attacks against southern Israel.
Read more »
Man could spend decades in prison for trafficking drugs at Pa. county jail: policeAlfonso Sanchez was in jail awaiting retrial on a double homicide when he began orchestrating a scheme to bring drugs into the facility in 2020, officials said.
Read more »
Türkiye closes airspace to Russian planes carrying troops to SyriaTürkiye closes its airspace to Russian military and civilian planes carrying troops from Russia to Syria after consultation with Moscow, Turkish FM Cavusoglu says
Read more »
Türkiye, Uruguay agree to 'increase trade volume'Ankara and Montevideo have signed 'important agreements,' Turkish FM Cavusoglu said that he also believes this will pave the way to increase trade volume even further.
Read more »
1 killed, 1 transported following crash in Southeast Travis CountyATCEMS and Austin Fire crews responded to the crash on N FM 973 where one person was pinned in their vehicle.
Read more »