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Abbas, Kerry discuss Israeli violations in Jerusalem

RAMALLA, Oct 31 (KUNA) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appealed in a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday to have Israel stop its violations in Jerusalem, including transgressions against the Al-Aqsa Grand Mosque.
President Abbas moreover decried Israel's settlement policies and the confiscation of Palestinian homes, saying that these actions were bound to ratchet up the level of violence and extremism.
Today, Israeli authorities prohibited Palestinians from performing their Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in a further aggravation of life for ordinary Palestinians.
PLO executive council member Saeb Erekat issued a press statement today in which he held the Israeli government responsible for the deteriorating conditions in the West Bank and regarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque transgressions.
He stressed that Israel, through its belligerent actions, was well on its way to abort the concept of a two state solution, appealing at the same time to the international community to recognize an independent Palestinian state with 1967 borders and Jerusalem as its capital. In that regard he appreciated Sweden's recent recognition of a Palestinian state.
Today a number of confrontations took place between Palestinians and Israeli forces, the worst of which was in the area north of the city of Jerusalem. The confrontations happened after Friday prayers, most of which were in response to Israeli violations of the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and continued Israeli settlements. A number of Palestinian protestors sustained injuries from rubber bullets at the hands of Israeli soldiers.
In Gaza, and following Friday prayers as well, crowds of Palestinians poured into the streets, among them those from various Palestinian political factions, protesting Israeli violations of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and illegal settlements.
Having closed the Al-Aqsa Mosque earlier this morning, Israeli authorities subsequently reopened it for those who wanted to pray there. The closing occurred after the assassination of a Jewish cleric yesterday who was known for his calls to shut down the Al-Aqsa Mosque. (end) nq.wab.ajs