CAIRO, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit slammed Israel on Friday for its excessive use of forces against unarmed Palestinians in East Jerusalem during clashes that killed three Palestinians and injured hundreds.
In a press statement, the AL spokesman Mahmoud Afifi said the Secretary-General believes that the current tension could lead to further escalation in light of growing Palestinian, Arab and Islamic anger.
On Friday, Palestinians called for a day of rage protesting against Israel's new security measures taken at the entrances of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Muslims' third holiest site, including the installing of metal detectors and cameras.
Palestinians were further angered after Israel barred Palestinian men under 50 from entering the mosque for Friday prayers.
Israeli security forces fired rubber bullets and stun grenades at Palestinian protesters as clashes erupted outside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and the West Bank cities of Ramallah, Hebron, Bethlehem, Salfit and Nablus.
At least 200 Palestinians were also injured during the clashes, Palestinian medical sources said.
Meanwhile, Aboul-Gheit renewed his call on Israel to immediately stop its measures that will only increase tension and escalation.
He also urged the international community to shoulder responsibility and push Israel to respect the international resolutions relating to Jerusalem.
Tension in Jerusalem erupted when Israel shut down the holy site and installed checkpoints and metal detectors at its entrances after three Muslim Palestinians with Israeli citizenship gunned down two Israeli policemen last Friday.
The attackers were then killed by Israeli police inside the holy compound.
The site, holy to both Muslims and Jews, includes the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
