Status of the holy sites in Jerusalem should be resolved through Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations - Russia

    

Moscow is concerned about the escalation of tension in East Jerusalem, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"We proceed from the assumption that all issues relating to the holy sites in Jerusalem, a holy city for adherents to three monotheistic religions, should be resolved through Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations on a firm international legal basis," the Foreign Ministry said in a commentary posted on its website.
Tensions in East Jerusalem have escalated dangerously of late, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"Since an activist of a radical Palestinian group attempted to assassinate Israeli rightwing figure Rabbi Yehuda Glick on October 29, the Israeli authorities have taken a truely unprecedented step by blocking access to one of the main Islamic shrines, the Al-Aqsa mosque complex. Despite the fact that such restrictive measures were later somewhat relaxed, the situation in the city is continuing to heat up, and clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli security forces have taken place regularly," it said.
"This is related not least of all due to attempts being taken by some Israeli figures from the rightwing camp to enter the Al-Aqsa complex territory. Growth in extremist sentiments on the part of both Israeli and Palestinian radicals is seriously exacerbating the situation. 
There were two incidents on November 5 in which vehicles driven by Palestinian drivers ran over Israeli citizens, causing the death of a police major and injuring more than ten other people. According to a number of media outlets, these incidents were premeditated," it said.