Netanyahu manipulates status quo: Palestinian government

The Palestinian unity government on Tuesday accused that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks on maintaining the status quo at the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem is fallacious.

Located in the old city of east Jerusalem, the al-Aqsa Mosque is the third Holiest place for Muslims following Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.

Jews believe that ruins of their ancient temples are under the compound of the al-Aqsa Mosque.

Clashes flare up on an almost daily basis at the al-Aqsa mosque compound between Palestinian worshipers and Israeli police, where Palestinians accuse Orthodox Jews of "storming" the al-Aqsa mosque compound during Jewish holidays.

The Israeli Premier vowed to maintain the status quo in the mosque.

Netanyahu accused Islamic parties, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) along with Turkey of fomenting tension at the site, right before holding a session with senior officials on the security condition in Jerusalem.

Politically, Palestinians want east Jerusalem to be the capital of their future state within the territories occupied by Israel in 1967.

Israel says Jerusalem is their undivided capital, although the international community does not acknowledge nor recognize that claim.

In a statement following its weekly meeting via video conference between Ramallah and Gaza, the council of ministers said that maintaining the status quo requires that the Department of Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem be the sole responsible party for all matters relating to the mosque.

The statement declared that the status quo has been in place since the Ottoman, throughout the British Mandate and Jordanian rule, adding that "any adverse situation was imposed by Israel's military when it occupied Jerusalem in 1967."

The statement referred to underground excavations under and around the al-Aqsa mosque, tunnel digging that incited Palestinians to revolt in September 1996, followed by former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's visit in 2000 sparking the second Palestinian uprising.

The council said that Israel's government encourages "reactionary attacks against Islamic and Christian Holy sites," warning that this could spark a religious war.

"Israel is the only responsible party for this war's outcome," the statement read.

The council called on Muslim and Arab countries to act correspondingly to "the massive threat in the Holy city in order to prevent Israel from further desecrating the al-Aqsa mosque."

The council additionally urged the international community to hold Israeli leaders and Orthodox Jews accountable for supporting and executing attacks against the al-Aqsa mosque compound and unarmed Palestinians. Endit