UN Security Council to Discuss Israeli Minister's Al-Aqsa Visit

Visitors walk next to Al-Aqsa mosque on the compound known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount, in Jerusalem's Old City January 3, 2023. (Reuters)
Visitors walk next to Al-Aqsa mosque on the compound known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount, in Jerusalem's Old City January 3, 2023. (Reuters)
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UN Security Council to Discuss Israeli Minister's Al-Aqsa Visit

Visitors walk next to Al-Aqsa mosque on the compound known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount, in Jerusalem's Old City January 3, 2023. (Reuters)
Visitors walk next to Al-Aqsa mosque on the compound known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount, in Jerusalem's Old City January 3, 2023. (Reuters)

The UN Security Council will meet Thursday to discuss the controversial visit to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound by an Israeli minister that has enraged Palestinians.

The 15-member Council will convene at 3:00 pm (2000 GMT) at the United Nations headquarters in New York following a request by the United Arab Emirates and China, AFP said.

"It is the international community that decides the fate of defending and protecting the historic status quo in Jerusalem in the defense of the Islamic and Christian sites in Jerusalem," Palestinian ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour said.

"We will not be satisfied with beautiful statements which will be uttered tomorrow in the Security Council. We want them to be implemented in a concrete way," he added.

There have been fears Tuesday's visit by Israel's new national security minister, firebrand Itamar Ben-Gvir, could spark a war.

Al-Aqsa mosque lies in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem and is the third-holiest site in Islam.

Under a longstanding status quo, non-Muslims can visit the site at specific times but are not allowed to pray there.

In recent years, a growing number of Jews, most of them Israeli nationalists, have covertly prayed at the compound, a development decried by Palestinians.

Western governments warned such moves threaten the fragile arrangement at Jerusalem's holy sites.

Ben-Gvir's visit sparked a wave of international condemnation, including from the United States, a longstanding ally of Israel.

"This is an action of extremism that purports to create a new cycle of violence," Jordan's ambassador to the UN Mahmoud Daifallah Hmoud said.

"The Security Council has to take its responsibility seriously and stop such attempts," he added.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN chief Antonio Guterres, reiterated Wednesday that the secretary-general "calls on all to refrain from steps that could escalate tensions in and around Jerusalem."

The UN Security Council has adopted several resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over the years and supports the two-state solution to peace in the Middle East.



Egypt Seeks to Deepen Ties with African Nations to Counter Common Challenges

18 September 2024, Egypt, Cairo: Egypt's Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty speaks during a press conference at Tahrir Palace. (dpa)
18 September 2024, Egypt, Cairo: Egypt's Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty speaks during a press conference at Tahrir Palace. (dpa)
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Egypt Seeks to Deepen Ties with African Nations to Counter Common Challenges

18 September 2024, Egypt, Cairo: Egypt's Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty speaks during a press conference at Tahrir Palace. (dpa)
18 September 2024, Egypt, Cairo: Egypt's Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty speaks during a press conference at Tahrir Palace. (dpa)

Egypt held a series of contacts and consultations with African officials to boost its relations throughout the continent.

Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty held telephone talks on Friday with his counterparts from Kenya, Congo Brazzaville and Guinea Bissau to discuss regional and international developments.

Experts said the contacts aim at “deepening Egypt’s presence in Africa.”

An Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman said the talks tackled bilateral ties and means to strengthen them.

They discussed cooperation in various fields, including development, the economy, trade and investment.

The discussions underlined the importance of supporting development in Africa and achieving economic integration between its countries.

They stressed the need to intensify consultations and coordination to confront common economic, development and security challenges.

Abdelatty said Cairo was ready to support Congo Brazzaville through offering technical assistance and helping inaugurate sustainable development projects.

Former assistant minister of foreign affairs Ambassador Salah Halima noted that Egypt has intensified its talks with African countries in recent months.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the contacts aim to deepen its bilateral relations with African nations and to consult over pressing issues facing the Horn of Africa, Red Sea, central Africa and Sahel regions.

Former member of the Council for Foreign Affairs Ali al-Hafny told Asharq Al-Awsat that Egypt’s ties with Africa are now stronger than ever, noting the series of contacts and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's visits to various African countries.

Abdelatty had last month visited Gabon and Chad. Talks with officials focused on joint coordination over regional issues of common concern.

Al-Hafny said combating terrorism, resolving conflicts and supporting bilateral relations in the fields of infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and food and water security are top concerns in Africa.