Israeli officials lambasted the EU and other Western countries over the weekend after European diplomats visited the Temple Mount without prior communication through the relevant diplomatic channels, all but ignoring the Israeli control over the holy site and in Jerusalem overall.
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The group, which comprised some 30 members from EU countries, Australia, and Argentina, coordinated with the Islamic Waqf on the mountain, which is the religious administrative body there, but did not do the same with the Israeli authorities and security agencies.
Head of the European Union Delegation to the Palestinians in Ramallah Sven Kuhn coordinated the visit but did not make it public. Other participants did. The UK Consulate in Jerusalem tweeted: "We joined like-minded diplomats at #AlAqsa Mosque to demonstrate support for Jordanian Custodianship of Christian and Muslim holy sites in #Jerusalem. We continue to promote historic Status Quo arrangements which permit all three Abrahamic faiths to worship in the Old City."
A Foreign Ministry spokesman expressed outrage, telling Israel Hayom: "This visit was irresponsible and could have led to provocation and incitement. The Foreign Ministry will continue to engage via diplomatic channels in order to prevent steps that could lead to escalation and has made it clear to the EU that it does not take it lightly."
Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.
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