Image: AFP
Faizel Patel – 08/05/2021
The International Relations Department (DIRCO) has joined the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates in condemning the attacks and the planned evictions of Palestinians from annexed East Jerusalem to make way for Israeli settlements following a night of violence in Jerusalem.
Israeli police fired rubber-coated metal bullets and stun grenades Palestinians and worshippers as on Friday night, the 26th of Ramadan while they were performing the Taraweeh salaah.
The clashes at Islam’s third holiest site and around east Jerusalem, which injured 205 Palestinians and came amid mounting anger over the planned evictions.
Dirco has reiterated that Israel’s actions are in stark violation of international law, also a disregard of international humanitarian law and UN Security Council Resolutions.
“It is perplexing that during these unprecedented times, as the international community addresses the global challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, Israel is exploiting the situation to advance its de facto annexation of Palestinian land. These acts are not only illegal but also risk undermining the viability of a negotiated two-state solution and will have negative consequences on the entire peace process.”
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry in a in a statement carried by Al Arabiya said it rejects Israel’s plans and measures to evict dozens of Palestinians from their homes in Jerusalem and impose Israeli sovereignty over them.”
The UAE which normalised relations with Israel last year also condemned the attacks.
In a statement carried by state news agency WAM, the UAE’s Foreign Affairs Minister of State Khalifa al-Marar urged Israeli authorities to reduce tensions.
Al-Marar stressed “the need for Israeli authorities to assume their responsibilities in line with international law to provide necessary protection to Palestinian civilians’ right to practice their religion, and to prevent practices that violate the sanctity of the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque”
Earlier, Palestinian ambassador to South Africa Hanan Jarar told Radio Islam the attacks on Masjid Al-Aqsa and on the residents of Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in Jerusalem is a clear indication of a Zionist attempt to create a new reality in the holy city of Jerusalem.
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