Raising Israeli flag inside Al-Aqsa Mosque 'very disturbing': UN

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The UN said it was disturbed Tuesday by reports of illegal Israeli settlers storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem and raising an Israeli flag in the courtyards.

"We're aware of these reports, which are very disturbing as you know, we always have called for and continue to call for respect for the status quo at all of the holy sites in Jerusalem and we do so again today," Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the UN chief told reporters.

His remarks came after illegal settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex to mark Israel's Independence Day with one holding an Israeli flag.

Since 2003, Israel has allowed illegal settlers into the flashpoint compound on an almost daily basis with the exception of Fridays and Saturdays.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world's third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the Temple Mount, contending it is the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.