U.S. Urges Restraint after al-Aqsa Mosque Reopened to Muslims
The United States urged all sides in Jerusalem to exercise restraint amid spiraling tensions in the holy city, and was working with Israelis, Palestinian and Jordanians to try to restore calm.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki also condemned the shooting of hardline rabbi Yehuda Glick, who holds both Israeli and U.S. citizenship.
She called for the reopening of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem to Muslim worshipers, just before Israeli police said the compound was now open again.
Isareli police spokeswoman Luba Samri told Agence France-Presse that "it was decided to restore (the compound) to normal... effective immediately,"adding that because of a fear of unrest at Friday midday prayers, entry for men would be restricted to those over 50.
"We're extremely concerned by escalating tensions across Jerusalem and particularly surrounding the Haram al-Sharif, Temple Mount," Psaki said.
"It is actually critical that all sides exercise restraint, refrain from provocative actions and rhetoric and preserve the status quo on the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount in word and in practice."
She told reporters that a "continued commitment by Israelis, Palestinians and Jordanians to preserve the historic status quo at this holy site is critical."
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was expected to be in touch with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the next 24 hours, Psaki added.
Source: Agence France Presse
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