EU Official Ashton calls to permit Jewish prayer on Temple Mount?
Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA 12 May 2013

"It is essential that access to the holy sites in Jerusalem for peaceful
worship for all denominations is fully respected."

EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 10 May 2013 A 249/12
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/137069.pdf

Statement by the spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on
recent developments in East Jerusalem and the West Bank

The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for
Foreign Affairs and security Policy and Vice President of the Commission,
issued the following statement today:

“The High Representative is concerned by developments over the past week in
East Jerusalem and the West Bank which have increased tensions on the ground
and risk undermining current efforts to re-launch peace talks. It is
important that those concerned exercise maximum restraint and refrain from
any actions which could drive the sides to the conflict further apart.

The High Representative is disturbed by recent events in East Jerusalem such
as those that took place at Orthodox Easter, the unrest in the area of the
Haram al Sharif/Temple Mount and the temporary detention of the Mufti of
Jerusalem and Palestine on Wednesday. It is essential that access to the
holy sites in Jerusalem for peaceful worship for all denominations is fully
respected.

She is also very concerned by reports of the approval of settlement plans
for 300 houses at Beit EL near Ramallah in the West Bank. The EU has
repeatedly declared settlements to be illegal under international law and to
constitute an obstacle to peace.”

PRESS
FOR FURTHER DETAILS:
Michael Mann +32 498 999 780 - +32 2 299 97 80 - Michael.Mann@eeas.europa.eu
Maja Kocijancic +32 498 984 425 - +32 2 298 65 70 -
Maja.Kocijancic@ec.europa.eu
Sebastien Brabant +32 460 75 09 98 - Sebastien.Brabant@ec.europa.eu
COMM-SPP-HRVP-ASHTO1@ec.europa.eu
www.eeas.europa.eu
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[With thanks to Yisrael Medad]