EU urges international community to address status quo violations in Jerusalem

LONDON (AA) – The EU foreign policy chief has called on the international community to address concerns on repeated violations of the status quo of holy sites in Jerusalem.

Josep Borrell wrote on X that he shares Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi’s concerns about the repeated violations of the status quo of the Holy Sites that are “under continued threat including from (Israel’s National Security) Minister (Itamar) Ben Gvir.”

“They are fully legitimate and must be addressed by the international community,” he said, quoting Safadi’s remarks that urged the UN Security Council and all members of the international community to take “immediate effective action to stop the illegal Israeli measures” that violate the historical and legal status quo at occupied Jerusalem’s Holy Sites.

“Regional stability is at stake,” Borrell warned.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Jordanian minister said that the Security Council must adopt a binding resolution preventing Israel from further violations and escalation at the sacred Al Aqsa Mosque, adding: “It must do so before it is too late, the situation is already explosive.

Ben-Gvir had claimed earlier this week that Jews have the right to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque, saying he would build a synagogue at the flashpoint site.

The status quo, in place since before the 1967 Israeli occupation, designates the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem, under the Jordanian minister of Awqaf and Islamic affairs, as responsible for managing Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is a place of worship for Muslims only.

However, since 2003, Israeli police have unilaterally allowed illegal settlers to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque on weekdays, excluding Fridays and Saturdays, without the approval of the Islamic Waqf.

Al Aqsa marks the third holiest site in Islam- its first prayer direction and the site of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him)’s miraculous Ascension to the heavens. The Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) has strongly condemned the Israeli administration’s incursions into the sacred precincts and warned of consequences if the sanctity of the area is violated.