Abbas accuses Israel of escalation in East Jerusalem

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday held the Israeli government responsible for the current escalation in East Jerusalem, reported Xinhua.

"Israel is fully responsible for the repercussions of the dangerous developments, mainly the escalated Israeli assaults on our people in East Jerusalem," Abbas said in a televised speech aired on Palestine TV.

He also said that Palestine will request from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to convene soon to discuss the situation in East Jerusalem.

On Friday, Palestinian and Israeli media sources said that clashes broke out between Palestinian worshippers and the Israeli police at al-Aqsa Mosque in the old city in East Jerusalem.

Palestinian sources said that Israeli police forces stormed the yards of al-Aqsa Mosque and fired rubber bullets and teargas canisters to disperse dozens of prayers that were demonstrating against Israel.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said that at least 53 Palestinian prayers were injured and many others were arrested.

Six Israeli policemen were injured, according to media reports.