RAMALLAH, Monday, July 19, 2021 (WAFA) - The presidency of Palestine strongly denounced and categorical rejected statements by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, in which he said that freedom of worship of Jews and Muslims must be preserved at Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites located in occupied Jerusalem.

The presidency considered such statements as an escalation that leads towards a dangerous religious strife for which the Israeli government, which puts obstacles in the way of international efforts, bears full responsibility and particularly since the statements were made on the eve of the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Adha holiday.

The presidency called for preserving the historical status quo at Al-Haram Al-Sharif (Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock), considering this statement as a defiance of the international community, including the official US position that was conveyed to the Palestinian presidency and which calls for preserving the historical status quo at Al-Haram Al-Sharif.

The Palestinian leadership is taking all the required and necessary measures to preserve the Palestinian people’s inalienable historical rights in Jerusalem and the Islamic and Christian holy sites, said the presidency.

M.K.