UNITED NATIONS, July 14 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday condemned the attack by three assailants in the Old City of Jerusalem in Israel in which two police officers were killed and another injured.
"This incident has the potential to ignite further violence. All must act responsibly to avoid escalation," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for the secretary-general, in a statement.
"The thoughts and prayers of the Secretary-General are with the families of the victims, and he wishes a speedy recovery to the injured," the statement said.
The secretary-general welcomed the swift condemnation of this attack by Palestinian President mahmoud Abbas and the assurances by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem will be respected, the statement noted.
"The sanctity of religious sites should be respected as places for reflection, not violence," concluded the statement.
