UN Security Council asked to provide protection for Al-Aqsa Mosque

RAMALLAH - The Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has decided to ask the UN Security Council to provide protection to Al-Aqsa Mosque, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Malki said on Wednesday.

Malki told Voice of Palestine radio that the OIC made the decision at the urgent meeting of OIC foreign ministers held Tuesday in Istanbul, Turkey.

The ministers discussed the situation in East Jerusalem, where Israeli forces and Palestinian protesters had clashed over Israel's restrictions on Muslims' access to the holy site.

That the OIC went beyond the tradition of only issuing verbal denunciation of Israel to adopt practical proposals to be implemented soon, Malki said.

He said the OIC also called for providing financial support to strengthen the steadfastness of the Palestinians in Jerusalem and to boycott Israeli settlements' products.

A committee was formed by the OIC to determine the mechanisms for implementing the outcome of the meeting, Malki added.

Israel's installation of metal detectors and cameras at the entrances to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound since July 14 after a shooting accident triggered off widespread protests from Palestinians and the Muslim word.

The compound was regarded as the third holiest site in Islam, while also revered by Jews as the holiest site. The Palestinians and Muslim world denounced the Israeli security measures as an attempt to claim further control over the site.

Under pressure, Israel removed all the detectors and cameras last week, though maintaining the restrictions that bar Palestinians under 50 from prayers at the mosque.