Peace activists urge Trump to prevent Jerusalem escalation

Americans for Peace Now (APN) to Trump Administration: Help Prevent Further Escalation in Jerusalem

Washington, DC – Alarmed at the flare-up of violence on and around Jerusalem’s Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif, and extremely concerned about a further deterioration, Americans for Peace Now (APN) is calling on the Trump administration to offer its services to help establish security arrangements in this sensitive spot, which would be accepted and respected by all.

Following the shooting attack that took the lives of two Israeli police officers last week, Israel’s authorities decided on a set of security arrangements on the Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif, the holiest site to Judaism and the third holiest to Islam. These arrangements are viewed by Muslims as violating the delicate “Status Quo” that serves to maintain stability at the site.

Security measures are obviously necessary at this spot, and APN reserves judgement on the specifics of the security tools utilized in Jerusalem’s Holy Basin. However, we strongly believe that it is imperative for all parties involved to play an active, constructive role in determining this security regime and in maintaining it.

Christian religious presence imposes itself in Jerusalem despite pressures from all sides. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania

APN welcomes the current discussions taking place between the Israeli government and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to find a resolution to the current crisis and to find ways to avoid bloodshed on Friday, after the traditional weekly prayer at al-Aqsa Mosque.

We urge our government to offer its good offices to all the parties involved to advance a formula that would address the unique security requirements of this holy site, uphold its sanctity, allow for freedom of worship, and garner respect and cooperation by the parties involved.

Jerusalem’s Holy Basin may be the most politically and religiously volatile spot on earth. It is incumbent upon all stakeholders in Jerusalem and beyond not to allow surges in tension revolving around the Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif to mushroom into a religious war.

ABOUT APN

APN is the sister organization of Shalom Achshav (Peace Now), Israel’s preeminent peace movement. APN’s mission is to educate and persuade the American public and its leadership to support and adopt policies that will lead to comprehensive, durable, Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Arab peace, based on a two-state solution, guaranteeing both peoples security, and consistent with U.S. national interests. APN also works to ensure Israel’s future and the viability of Israel’s democracy and Jewish character through education, activism and advocacy in the United States, and by mobilizing American support for Shalom Achshav.

For more information on Americans for Peace Now, click here.

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Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster at The Arab Daily News

Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

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