Arab Leaders Warn Israeli Actions Threaten Regional Turmoil

By Hamodia Staff

YERUSHALAYIM — Dozens of leaders and senior officials from Arab and Islamic countries warned on Sunday that Israeli actions in Yerushalayim and Shomron could worsen regional turmoil, as violence surges between Israel and the Palestinians.

The meeting in Cairo was hosted by the Arab League and attended by President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas along with many foreign ministers and senior officials.

The high-level gathering came amid one of the deadliest periods of fighting in years between Palestinians and Israelis. Forty-five Palestinians have been killed so far this year, according to a count by The Associated Press. Palestinians have killed 10 people Hy”d on the Israeli side during that time.

Speakers at the meeting condemned Israel’s “unilateral measures” including home demolitions of terrorists and expanding Jewish communities in Yehuda and Shomron.

They also condemned visits by Israeli officials to Har Habayis.

There was no immediate comment from Israel’s government.

The officials also voiced support for Jordan’s role as custodian of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam.

Calling Jerusalem “the backbone of the Palestinian cause,” el-Sissi warned of dire repercussions of any Israeli move to change the status quo of the holy site, saying they would “negatively impact” future negotiations to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel leaders have repeatedly affirmed the status quo and denied allegations that they seek to change it.

El-Sissi, whose country was the first Arab nation to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, called on the international community to “reinforce the two-state solution and create conducive conditions for the resumption of the peace process.”

King Abdullah II also called for Israel to cease its violations and incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

“The region cannot live in peace, stability, and prosperity without any progress made on the Palestinian cause,” he warned.

Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, the secretary-general of the pan-Arab organization, also warned that attempts to partition the Al-Aqsa Mosque and obliterate its Arab and Islamic identity “would fuel endless unrest and violence.”

Abbas, said his administration would resort to the United Nations and its agencies and demand a resolution to protect the two-state solution to the conflict.

“The State of Palestine will continue going to international courts and organizations to protect our people’s legitimate rights,” he said, referring to their aspirations for statehood, though the Palestinian Authority does not have the status of a state.

Reporting by AP.