(JTA) — Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has announced that Palestinian leaders have frozen all contact with Israel over newly installed security measures at the Temple Mount.
Multiple outlets reported Abbas’ decision on Friday afternoon.
“We announce a freeze on all contacts with Israelis on all levels,” Abbas said Friday, according to The Times of Israel, “until it cancel the steps taken against our people in Al-Aqsa and in Jerusalem.”
It is not immediately clear if the freeze will temporarily end security cooperation between Israel and the Palestinians.
Al-Jazeera reported that Abbas cut short a trip to China to deal with the crisis.
Metal detectors were installed at the entrance to the Temple Mount after three Arab-Israelis shot and killed two Israeli police officers at the holy site on July 14. Over the past week, at least three Palestinians have been killed and hundreds injured in clashes with Israeli police in eastern Jerusalem.
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