President Abbas cuts contacts with Israel over Al-Aqsa Mosque tensions

22-07-2017

RAMALLAH-- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Friday that he would suspend all contacts with Israel until the latter cancels all measures it has implemented against Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, said the Palestinian News and Info Agency, WAFA.

Abbas headed an urgent joint meeting for the Palestine Liberation Organisation and Fatah Central Committee to discuss strategy in confronting the Israeli measures.

"In the name of the Palestinian leadership, I declare the suspension of all contacts with the occupying country on all levels until Israel revokes all its measures against our Palestinian people and Jerusalem, particularly at Al-Aqsa Mosque, and preserve the historical status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque," Abbas told his cabinet.

Abbas said the move was a response to Israel's decision to add more security at the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, which threatens to prevent the devout from visiting one of Islam's holiest sites "We also reject the so-called electronic gates because they are a political move hiding under the cover of an imaginary security pretext that aims to control Al-Aqsa Mosque and evade the peace process as well as turn the conflict from a political one to a religious conflict," he added.