An official source has said on Thursday that Saudi Arabia expressed complete disapproval and denounced Israel for its recent violations against the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which is considered to be Islam's third holiest site. The source also added that Saudi Arabia will hold Israeli authorities fully accountable for any consequences resulting from acts of "illegal aggression," stressing that any attacks will lead to serious consequences and fuels extremism and violence. The Gulf Arab Kingdom also added that acts in recent days are incompatible in accordance to established principles and international laws that have been agreed upon on Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Saudi official also confirmed that Saudi Arabia unequivocally refuses any policy that suggests Al-Aqsa Mosque be divide and time-shared between Jews and Muslims, warning that of such policies would only lead to escalation of tensions and serious consequences. It has also called on the international community to take serious and immediate steps to compel Israeli authorities to halt border police attacks on the compound. Saudi King Salman had informed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that he had been in contact with world leaders regarding the mosque and that he had asked Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir to take all necessary measures to protect al-Aqsa, the Palestinian news agency WAFA said. Rioting erupted between Israeli police and Palestinians this week at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound as Jews celebrated their new year between Sunday evening and Tuesday evening. The Israeli police entered the compound to disperse protesters, in a response that sparked condemnation across the Arab world and concern that the tensions could spiral out of control. The U.N.'s Mideast envoy, Nikolay Mladenov, warned on Tuesday that clashes between Israelis and Palestinians in and around Jerusalem's holy sites have the potential to ignite violence well beyond the walls of its old city, pointing to "a vicious tide of terror and extremism" in the region.
