Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (pictured) said yesterday he was freezing contacts with Israel over new security measures at a highly sensitive Jerusalem holy site, after deadly clashes erupted earlier in the day.
Abbas said in a speech that the freeze would stay in place until Israel lifted the measures at the Haram al-Sharif mosque compound, which Jews refer to as the Temple Mount. “I, on behalf of the Palestinian leadership, announce...a freeze of all contacts with the occupation state on all levels until Israel commits to cancelling all the measures against our Palestinian people in general and Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa mosque in particular,” Abbas said to applause from Palestinian officials.
Abbas called the measures “falsely presented as a security measure to take control over Al-Aqsa mosque”.
Abbas’ speech came after three Palestinians were killed and several hundred wounded yesterday in clashes between protesters and Israeli forces over the new security measures at the holy site.
Abbas freezes govt contact over dispute
