AMMAN, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have called for efforts to end the tensions and restore calm to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, the Jordianian news agency PETRA reported Friday.
In a phone conversation late Thursday, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi discussed with his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan the rising tensions between Palestinians and Israeli forces at the holy Muslim site over the past days.
They underscored the importance of immediately and fully re-opening the mosque for Muslim worshippers, while demanding Israel respect the historical and legal status to the holy shrines in East Jerusalem, PETRA reported.
The two foreign ministers also urged the international community "to exert rapid and effective efforts" to de-escalate the tensions in Al-Aqsa Mosque and end Israel's unilateral actions, it added.
About 80 Palestinians were wounded Thursday in clashes outside the mosque compound with Israeli security forces, which fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the Palestinian protesters.
The clashes were sparked by Israel's installation of metal detectors at the gates to the Al-Aqsa compound, known as TempleMount by the Jews, after a terror attack last Friday in which three Israeli Arab gunmen were killed after shooting dead two Israeli policemen.
Muslim worshippers have slammed Israel for breaking the status quo and attempting to claim further control over the holy site.
On Thursday, Muslim leaders called for mass prayers in the mosque on Friday, in protest of the new Israeli measures.
Israel on Friday banned Muslims under 50 from doing prayers in the mosque, while deploying about 3,000 security officers around the compound to fend off Palestinian protesters.
