Egypt told the Security Council today that Israel “must” withdraw from East Jerusalem and that the Palestinians in the West Bank, including those living in East Jerusalem, must have their right to self-determination.
The Egyptian Ambassador, Mohamed Ibrahim Shaker, addressed the Council in the course of the debate on “The Situation in the Occupied Arab Territories.” The Council opened its debate yesterday at the request of Morocco, as chairman of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and the United Arab Emirates, as chairman of the Arab Group at the UN. The request was triggered by recent confrontations on the Temple Mount between a group of visiting Knesset members and an angry Arab crowd.
Egypt claimed in the Council today that the incidents were not the first time that Israel “violated the sacred character of the Al-Aksa Mosque.” This time, Egypt charged, “Israeli officials” were involved in the “profanation” of the Mosque. The Egyptian representatives warned that “the incitement of religious feelings” can harm the prospects of peace in the region.
Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, speaking at the opening session of the debate yesterday, said that a delegation of Knesset members visited the Temple Mount on January 8 and that the visit was coordinated in advance with the Waqf, the Moslem religious authority in charge of administering Moslem holy places in Jerusalem.
He charged that a pre-arranged incitement took place when the Knesset members paused at Solomon’s Stables “which had no religious significance.” Netanyahu said that a group of Arabs surrounded the Knesset members and began to shout: “The Jews are invading the Temple Mount. Slaughter the Jews.”
Asserting that the PLO was “the main agitator for this (the Security Council) meeting, “the Israeli envoy said that the alleged anti-Moslem incident in Jerusalem never happened. “What happened was an attempt to incite anti-Jewish hatred.” He said that freedom of religion flourished in Jerusalem and that Jerusalem will remain Israel’s capital forever.
The Security Council decided to continue the debate next Monday. Diplomats said they hoped the Council will conclude its meeting next week although at present there is no draft resolution. Diplomats said they expect a U.S. veto on any harsh anti-Israeli resolution.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
