Saturday, 10 October 2015

Kerry urges calm in talks with Israeli, Palestinian leaders

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Israeli police stand near the body of a Palestinian who, according to the police, stabbed two police officers, then other police forces opened fire and killed him, but also wounded one of their own, at the Damascus Gate of Jerusalem's Old City, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015. Palestinians carried out two stabbing attacks in Jerusalem on Saturday before being shot dead by police, while another two Palestinians were killed during a violent demonstration near the Gaza border fence. The violence, including the first apparent revenge attack by an Israeli Friday and increasing protests by Israel's own Arab minority, has raised fears of the unrest spiraling further out of control. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department says Secretary of State John Kerry has called the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to express concern over the spate of violence at holy sites in Jerusalem.
In separate calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Kerry said the U.S. was monitoring the escalating bloodshed surrounding a holy site for both Jews and Muslims, Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif. Violence has surged following Israeli lawmakers' visits to the site, which prompted concern among Palestinians over its control.
Israel has now restricted access to the site, but stabbings and other violence continue. The State Department says Kerry stressed the importance of preventing inflammatory rhetoric and that the U.S. would lend support where it can to restore calm.
AP

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