Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi denounced the Israeli violence towards Palestinians and called upon Israel to move swiftly to calm tensions caused by clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian youth this week at al-Aqsa mosque. Speaking at a joint press conference with European Union President Donald Tusk, al-Sisi reiterated the importance of al-Aqsa to Muslims and referred to the clashes as “a dangerous violation of Islamic holy places.” The al-Aqsa mosque, one of the main flash points between Muslims and Jews, has long been a point of contention between the two groups due to its holy significance in both religions. It is considered the most sacred site in Judaism and is the third holiest in Islam. Due to its heavily contested nature, longstanding agreements between Palestine and Israel have prevented Jewish visitors from praying at the site, a measure meant to avoid provoking tensions. However, some Palestinians now fear that Israel will soon seek to change these regulations. The president previously voiced his discontent over the clashes when meeting with his Palestinian counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas, last Thursday. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry also released a statement condemning the clashes, saying it…
Egypt’s President Sisi Calls on Israel to “Defuse Tensions” Following Al-Aqsa Clashes
September 20, 2015
