U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced Saturday that Israel has agreed to Jordan's proposal of installing 24-hour surveillance cameras at the Al Aqsa Mosque site in a bid to quell the violence.
"Prime Minister Netanyahu has agreed to what I think is an excellent suggestion by King Abdullah to provide 24-hour video coverage of all sites on the Temple Mount/ Haram al-Sharif," Kerry said in Amman shortly after holding meetings with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan's King Abdullah, according to The Jerusalem Post.
"This will provide comprehensive visibility and transparency, and that could really be a game changer in discouraging anybody from disturbing the sanctity of this holy site," the Secretary of State stated. Kerry spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week.
Al Aqsa mosque (Temple Mount or Haram al-Sharif) in Jerusalem has been at the centre of violent conflict between Israeli security forces and Palestinians, BBC News reported.
Kerry called for an immediate end to violence in the Middle East. "We are all deeply concerned about the recent violence in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, and especially in Jerusalem," said Kerry, according to Gulf Times.
"Leaders must lead, and it is important to stop the back-and-forth of language that gives anybody an excuse to somehow be misinterpreted or misguided into believing that violence becomes a viable option. It is not a viable option. Diplomacy and negotiation are the viable road ahead," he added.
Israeli Prime Minister, however, dismissed the accusations that Israel had violated the status quo on the Al Aqsa Mosque issue.
"Israel will continue to enforce its longstanding policy: Muslims pray on the Temple Mount; non-Muslims visit the Temple Mount," Netanyahu said Saturday night, according to The Jerusalem Post.
