Israeli FM blasts far-right politicians for fanning tension in Jerusalem

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Wednesday reproached right-wing politicians for paying controversial visits to the flashpoint al-Aqsa compound in east Jerusalem at a time of soaring tension between Arabs and Jews.

Lieberman told Israel Radio that some Israeli politicians "are seeking cheap publicity" in "a cynical exploitation of the current complicated political situation."

Hard-line ministers and parliament members are urging the government to lift a ban preventing Jews from praying in the holy site, known to Jews as the Temple Mount and Muslims as Harem al- Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary.

Several Israeli politicians have made public visits to the Temple Mount, with hawkish cabinet minister Uri Ariel vowing at a rally in Jerusalem that "the status quo on the Temple Mount will be changed."

On Wednesday, fresh clashes between stone-throwing Palestinians and police erupted after a group of far-right activists attempted to conduct a prayer vigil at the site.

A few hours later a Palestinian man rammed his van into pedestrians and then assaulted them with a metal bar in Jerusalem, leaving one person dead and 13 others injured, before being shot dead by Israeli police.
Sources: Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
6/11/14
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