France urges 'maximum restraint' to restore calm in Jerusalem

PARIS

France on Monday called on all actors to show “maximum restraint” and to refrain from any provocation so that calm may be restored as quickly as possible in occupied East Jerusalem.

Four days after the violence first began, the French Foreign Ministry released a statement expressing serious concern over the incidents in Jerusalem that have left several hundred people wounded and pose the risk of a large-scale escalation.

“All actions contributing to escalation on the ground must end,” read the statement.

While France did not criticize Israel’s attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque and Palestinian worshippers, it strongly condemned “rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip targeting Israeli territory” on Sunday night.

The statement also reaffirmed France’s commitment to preserving the historic status quo on the holy sites of Jerusalem.

The ministry said it was also “deeply concerned by threats of forced evictions against residents of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood” in occupied East Jerusalem.

It pointed out that these evictions “are linked to the settlement policy – which is illegal under international law – and exacerbate tensions.”

"All provocative statements and all calls for violence and hatred are unacceptable and must stop immediately," read the statement.

PARIS

France on Monday called on all actors to show “maximum restraint” and to refrain from any provocation so that calm may be restored as quickly as possible in occupied East Jerusalem.

“All actions contributing to escalation on the ground must end,” read the statement.

The statement also reaffirmed France’s commitment to preserving the historic status quo on the holy sites of Jerusalem.

The ministry said it was also “deeply concerned by threats of forced evictions against residents of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood” in occupied East Jerusalem.

It pointed out that these evictions “are linked to the settlement policy – which is illegal under international law – and exacerbate tensions.”

"All provocative statements and all calls for violence and hatred are unacceptable and must stop immediately," read the statement.