ROME, July 24, 2017 (WAFA) – Italy said Monday that it was greatly concerned with the spiral of tension and violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano said he was “following with great concern the spiral of tension and violence in Jerusalem and in all of the West Bank.”

Alfano made an appeal for “moderation and dialogue,” calling on all the parties involved “to cooperate and act responsibly in managing the difficult situation in the Old City (of Jerusalem) and to take action to immediately reduce violence and thereby avoid more victims.”

He was referring to Israeli installation of metal detectors at the gates to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City that provoked strong Palestinian reaction and the Palestinians and Israelis killed in the last two weeks as an outcome of this measure.

“(Israeli) Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu has assured that Israel will not make changes in the status quo in the Holy Sites: I take note of this, hoping that Israel and Jordan, which has a special role in respect of Jerusalem’s Holy Sites pursuant to the Peace Treaty with Israel, will cooperate to reach a solution assuring security, respect for the Holy Sites and the status quo,” said the Italian Foreign Minister.

M.K.