QNA, AFP

Doha, Ramallah

Qatar has condemned the storming by Israeli forces of Al Aqsa mosque to prevent worshippers from entering.

The Foreign Ministry confirmed in a statement that “the State of Qatar denounces Israeli violations against the holy sites and on the freedom of worship as well as abuses against the Palestinian people”.

The ministry also stressed “Qatar’s rejection of all Israeli actions, which are likely to increase tension and instability in the region”.  

Meanwhile, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has said legal measures will be taken to prevent Jewish settlers from attacking Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa mosque compound, having said their presence desecrates the site.

His remarks follow a recent spate of clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli police, which erupted when Jews were to visit the complex.

Muslims fear Jewish presence on Al Aqsa is aimed at usurping the site.

“The Palestinian leadership will be taking the necessary legal measures, at the international level, regarding the aggression of settlers on the Al Aqsa mosque,” Abbas said in a speech to the Revolutionary Council of his Fatah party.

“We will not allow settlers to attack the mosque,” he added.

On Friday, Abbas had pledged to bar settlers from entering the Al Aqsa compound “by any means”.

“They have no right to enter it and desecrate it,” he said of the visiting Israeli Jews.

Abbas called Jerusalem “the jewel in the crown and the eternal capital of the Palestinian people”. Without it, there can be no Palestinian state, he said.

Also yesterday, Jordan urged the international community to pressure Israel to end its illegal unilateral actions in the Al Aqsa mosque compound  and said it was mulling legal options.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh told ambassadors of permanent members of the Security Council and of the European Union that King Abdullah  had instructed the government to take all measures, including legal, to stop Israeli moves in the holy compound.