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.

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.