Kerry Says Need for Clarity to Help End Israeli-Palestinian Violence
Lesley Wroughton of Reuters reports, “U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday Israeli and Palestinian leaders need to clarify the status of Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque compound to help end a spate of bloodshed and restore stability.” The surge in violence has been sparked by what Palestinians view as Jewish encroachment on the mosque, which is currently under the administration of Muslims but is a holy site to both religions. Kerry said, “This is a human catastrophe unfolding before our eyes and it is a catastrophe that now threatens the integrity of a whole group of countries throughout the region.”