BRUSSELS: The European Union on Saturday condemned violent clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians at Jerusalem's flashpoint Al Aqsa mosque compound and urged authorities to quickly calm tensions.
"Violence and incitement are unacceptable and the perpetrators on all sides must be held accountable," a spokesman said in a statement.
"The European Union calls on the authorities to act urgently to de-escalate the current tensions in Jerusalem."
The statement added that "acts of incitement around the Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif must be avoided and the status quo has to be respected", using another term for the key religious site.
It said "political, religious and community leaders on all sides should show restraint and responsibility and make every effort to calm down this volatile situation".
More than 160 people were wounded when Israeli riot police clashed with Palestinians at the Al Aqsa mosque compound late on Friday, capping a week of violence in the Holy City and the occupied West Bank.
Stones, bottles and fireworks were hurled at officers who fired rubber bullets and stun grenades at the crowds at Islam's third-holiest site, also revered by Jews as the location of two biblical-era temples.
Police said officers had restored order because of the "rioting of thousands of worshippers" after evening prayers.
Tensions in Jerusalem have soared in recent weeks as Palestinians have protested against Israel's restrictions on access to parts of the Old City during Ramadhan, and after authorities ordered several Palestinian families to leave their homes to make way for Israeli settlers.
The EU statement condemned the evictions as "illegal" and blamed them for increasing tensions.
"The situation with regard to the evictions of Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah and other areas of East Jerusalem is also of serious concern," it said. "Such actions are illegal under international humanitarian law and only serve to fuel tensions on the ground."
Meanwhile, more than 200 people have been injured in heavy clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces in Jerusalem.
The Palestinian Red Crescent gave the number of injured as 205 early on Saturday morning, 88 of whom were taken to hospitals.
Many of them had been hit by rubber bullets. According to the Israeli police, 17 officers were injured, about half of them needing treatment in hospital.
Clashes occurred between Palestinians and Israeli security forces in the Old City on the holy site. There were also clashes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood.
According to the police, the clashes began when stones and firecrackers were thrown at officers near an access gate. Police officers then moved into the compound to deal with the rioters. The confrontations continued well into the night. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas blamed Israel for the escalation. - AFP/dpa
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