Israeli closure of Al-Aqsa mosque is a ‘declaraton of war’, rages Abbas

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has condemned the closure of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque as a “declaration of war”. The mosque, in the Al-Aqsa complex which contains sites holy to Muslims and Jews, was closed by Israel following the shooting of a Jewish activist. Abbas said: “This dangerous Israeli escalation is a declaration of war on the Palestinian people and its sacred places and on the Arab and Islamic nation. We hold the Israeli government responsible for this dangerous escalation in Jerusalem that has reached its peak through the closure of the Al-Aqsa mosque this morning. This decision is a dangerous act and a blatant challenge that will lead to more tension and instability and will create a negative and dangerous atmosphere.”

The state of Palestine will take all legal measures to hold Israel accountable and to stop these ongoing attacks.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas

American-born activist Yehuda Glick was shot by a gunman on a motorbike as he left a conference, in an incident that has seen tensions rise in Jerusalem. He is a well-known ultranationalist and advocate of greater Jewish prayer access at the Al-Aqsa complex. His attacker was described as speaking in “heavy Arabic-accented Hebrew”, according to Moshe Feiglin of the Likud party. Mr Glick is in a serious condition in hospital and his shooting comes after days of clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli police. Earlier on Thursday, Sweden officially recognised the state of Palestine less than a month after its government announced its intention to make the controversial move. Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Romania and Iceland are the only other western European nations to have done so.

It is an important step that confirms the Palestinians’ right to self-determination - we hope this will show the way for others.

Sweden Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom

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