Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel was determined to avoid an escalation in Jerusalem, amid ongoing to riots by Palestinians.
"We will not let any radical element disturb the peace in Jerusalem, we will ensure law and order are upheld in a responsible and assertive manner," Netanyahu said at the special cabinet meeting that was convened in the Jerusalem City Hall ahead of the Jerusalem Day this week, marking the reunification of the capital in the Six-Day War. "We will continue to allow freedom of worship to all religions, but we will not allow violent unrest; Israel will retaliate forcefully to any attack from the Gaza Strip."
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Netanyahu said that Israel "firmly rejects" pressure not to build in Jerusalem.
Tensions over Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem have stoked daily confrontations. Washington said Saturday it was "deeply concerned" and wanted "authorities to approach the residents ... with compassion and respect".
"We firmly reject the pressure not to build in Jerusalem. To my regret, this pressure has been increasing of late," Netanyahu said on Sunday during the weekly cabinet meeting.
"I say also to the best of our friends: Jerusalem is Israel's capital and just as every nation builds in its capital and builds up its capital, we also have the right to build in Jerusalem and to build up Jerusalem. That is what we have done and that is what we will continue to do," Netanyahu said.
East Jerusalem tensions have spilled over into clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians around Al-Aqsa, Islam's third-holiest mosque, at the height of the Ramadan fast month.
On Saturday night, Islam's holy night of Laylat al-Qadr, Palestinian youth threw stones, lit fires and tore down police barricades in the streets leading to the walled Old City gates as officers on horseback and in riot gear used stun grenades and water cannons to repel them.
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