PA Presidential office condemns “series of invasions and attacks against the holy sites, the desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque’s sanctity by the occupation's soldiers and its settlers” which may lead to “new cycle of violence” in region

Headline: "The [PA] Presidential Office condemns the desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque’s sanctity by the occupation and its settlers, and the attack against the worshippers"

"The [PA] Presidential Office yesterday [June 2, 2019] sharply condemned the series of invasions and attacks against the holy sites, the desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque’s sanctity by the occupation's soldiers and its settlers, and the wounding of the worshippers within it (Israeli police responded to Muslim riots at the Temple Mount; see note below –Ed.).

Official Presidential Office Spokesman [and PA Deputy Prime Minister] Nabil Abu Rudeina said yesterday in a statement: 'We hold the Israeli occupation government fully responsible for the dangerous escalation at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque as a result of the continued invasions and attacks against the worshippers by the extremist settlers under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces.'

He warned against the dangerous consequences of the Israeli acts, which are liable to drag the region into a new cycle of violence that is likely to threaten the security of the entire region. He also demanded that the international community act and fulfill its obligation in the matter, and to pressure Israel to stop this policy, which is attempting to turn the political conflict into a religious conflict whose results cannot be known."

Temple Mount riots on Jerusalem Day 2019 – Jews who entered the Temple Mount on Jerusalem Day were met with riots and objects such as chairs and rocks were thrown at them. Israeli police quelled the riots and arrested suspects. In 2019 Jerusalem Day coincided with the last days of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Jews are usually banned by Israeli police from entering the Temple Mount during the last 10 days of Ramadan due to security concerns, but they were given special permission to enter it on June 2, 2019, in honor of Jerusalem Day.

Nabil Abu Rudeina also holds the positions of PA Minister of Information; Fatah Commissioner of Information, Culture, and Ideology; and Fatah Central Committee member.