UNITED NATIONS, November 20 (Sputnik) – The UN Security Council has condemned the attack on a West Jerusalem synagogue, which led to the death of four people, calling on Palestinian and Israeli leaders to avoid all provocations and seek a path toward peace.
"The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the despicable terrorist attack in a synagogue in Jerusalem on 18 November, resulting in the murder of four innocent civilians worshipping at the synagogue and a police officer, as well as the injury of many more," a UN Security Council statement, released Wednesday, said.
"The members of the Security Council strongly condemned all such acts of violence, expressed concern about increased tensions, which have affected both the Israeli and Palestinian people, and urged all sides to take immediate steps to restore calm," the statement added.
On Tuesday, five people were killed and six wounded in a terrorist attack, carried out by two Palestinian men, cousins Ghassan and Uday Abu Jamal, at a synagogue in Jerusalem's western Har Nof neighborhood. Both terrorists were shot dead by the police.
The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, an armed wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, claimed responsibility for the synagogue killings. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has condemned the act of violence.
One of the main reasons for the recently amplified clashes between Arabs and Jews, including riots and terror attacks, is the alleged intention of Israel to reconsider the status quo on Jerusalem's Temple Mount in favor of Jews, who are currently not allowed to pray in the area. However, Israeli authorities have repeatedly denied any such plans.
