Off the wire
• Australian state premier brokers trade deal with Chinese energy consortium  • China issues white paper on gender equality, women's development  • Man attempts suicide by cop on Australia's Gold Coast  • China treasury bond futures open flat Tuesday  • China Hushen 300 index futures open mixed Tuesday  • Banned S. Korean swimmer Park to train in Japan  • Chinese yuan weakens to 6.3721 against USD Tuesday  • Chinese shares open higher Tuesday  • Pentagon denies telling U.S. troops to ignore sexual abuse of boys in Afghanistan  • Australian consumer confidence lifts with new PM in charge  
You are here: 　 Home

UN chief expresses concern over recent tensions in Jerusalem

Xinhua, September 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday reiterated his strong concern over recent tensions in Jerusalem in a phone call with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

"The Secretary-General and President Abbas exchanged views on the recent tensions in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem," said according to a press release issued by the Secretary-General's spokesperson.

"The Secretary-General urged both sides to defuse tensions and prevent escalation," it said.

Ban regretted recent instances of inflammatory rhetoric which will only serve to increase mistrust and worsen an already difficult situation on the ground, and urged all to refrain from it.

Moreover, the Secretary-General stressed the need for the status quo at the Holy Sites to be maintained, it said.

The conflict first broke out on Sept. 13 when Jews celebrated their new year Rosh Hashanah and protesters vowed to protect Islam's holy site Al-Aqsa mosque compound. Tensions have since escalated with more clashes and fears of spiraling violence are running high with a series of religious holidays approaching.

Yom Kippur holiday begins on Tuesday night and lasts until Wednesday evening and the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday begins on Wednesday evening and continues until Sunday. Endi