Embassy of the State of Palestine

Media Release

The Israeli imposition of surveillance cameras and metal detectors at the entrance to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem is part of a wider attempt to insidiously change the historical and legal status of occupied East Jerusalem and its religious sites.

Although described as security measures, H.E. Mr Izzat Abdulhadi, Ambassador of the State of Palestine, asserts that “the underlying motivation behind their imposition is purely political”—seeking to wrest sovereignty over occupied East Jerusalem and its religious sites.

Such imposition of Israeli sovereignty is in flagrant violation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, such as UN Security Council Resolutions 252 and 267. A 2017 UNESCO Resolution called upon Israel to cease its attempts to alter the “character and status of the Holy City”.

The measures have clearly not achieved their ostensible goal of increasing security. They have led to widespread condemnation and popular demonstrations by Palestinians, that have left five dead. “As in the past, these measures have only led to more violence on both sides” stated Ambassador Abdulhadi.  

These measures clearly only serve to feed the cycle of violence. The most important thing now is de-escalation of the situation to prevent any further harm and drastic deterioration of the situation towards a religious war. The only way to de-escalate is for Israel to cease all its attempts to change the status of Jerusalem and to end the occupation of Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem.

In light of the Israeli measures, the Palestinian Authority has halted cooperation with the Israeli Government, negatively impacting on any potential for the resumption of peace negotiations.

The Australian government and civil society have a responsibility to intervene by condemning Israeli attempts to change the historical and legal status of Jerusalem as a blatant violation of international law and relevant UN resolutions.