Israeli Actions Threaten to Ignite 'Religious War' in Region: Arab League

Sunday, 15 May 2022 8:54 PM 

Palestinian protesters carry away a fellow Palestinian injured during clashes with Israeli forces following a march marking the 74th anniversary of the Nakba (Catastrophe) Day, near the Beit El illegal settlement at the northern entrance to the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on May 15, 2022. (Photo by AFP)

The Arab League warns about the consequences of the Israeli regime's deliberate actions targeting the status quo at the al-Aqsa Mosque's compound.

The regional grouping's Secretariat General issued the warning on Sunday, the anniversary of the Nakba (Catastrophe) Day. Thousands of Palestinians and their supporters hold monumental rallies each year to mark the 1948 occasion, which saw the Israeli regime claiming existence following a heavily-Western-backed war against regional territories.

Israeli settlers storm the compound, Islam's third-holiest site, on a daily basis under the protection of Israeli forces. They often attack Palestinian Muslims and Christians, who converge on the compound to perform their religious duties. 

"These attacks amount to great violation of the international laws, and stand in the way of international efforts aimed at establishing 'peace,'" the Arab League statement read.

The Israeli assaults threaten to fan the flames of insecurity and instability in the region, and "can drag the [entire] region into violence and initiate a religious war," it added.

The Secretariat noted that around seven decades had passed since the Nakba, but the Palestinians were still dealing with the repercussions of the occasion," and are subject to violations that threaten "their existence, soil, rights, and sanctities."

It enumerated some instances of the regime's wanton aggression as its destruction of Palestinians' homes, forcing Palestinians into leaving their homeland, and carrying out "field executions" against them, including its recent gruesome murder of Shereen Abu Akleh, a distinguished Palestinian journalist.

OIC, Arab League condemn Israeli forces’ assassination of Palestinian journalist, EU demands independent probe

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The body urged the United Nations Security Council to intervene in support of the Palestinian people, and in favor of implementation of the UN resolutions that condemn the Israeli regime's occupation and aggression.

"The Security Council should expeditiously take the necessary measures that would bring pressure to bear on the occupying Israeli authorities to end their violations against the Palestinian nation," it asserted.

Such, the statement noted, is the Council's legal and moral duty towards preservation of international peace and security, and implementation of international resolutions.