China calls for UN Security Council to push for de-escalation of Jerusalem tensions
- Beijing expresses regret that statement on tensions between Israel and Palestinians was not passed at Monday meeting
- Foreign ministry also says the UN body must ‘reaffirm commitment and firm support to the two-state solution’
“China and other countries have drafted and disseminated a statement, the majority of countries have supported it and called for its immediate release, but very regrettably the UN Security Council has failed to reach a consensus,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular press briefing in Beijing.
She noted that China holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council this month and had called an urgent session to discuss the escalating violence between Israelis and Palestinians.
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Hundreds injured in violent clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians near Al-Aqsa mosque
Israeli police fired rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the heart of Jerusalem’s walled Old City, a sensitive site in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“China believes that the Security Council should do something to reaffirm commitment and firm support to the two-state solution, and firmly push for de-escalation,” Hua said. “As the president … China will continue to push for the Security Council to take action on the situation in East Jerusalem.”