US: Israel should deescalate tensions to avoid possible violence

The US administration of President Joe Biden has warned Israel that continuous tension in Jerusalem might lead the region to possible war as Muslim, Jewish and Christian holidays confluence in April, the Times of Israel reported yesterday.

Following consultations with diplomats and experts on the ground, the Biden administration has identified the confluence of religious holidays in April as a “recipe for disaster in Jerusalem,” the Israeli newspaper reported an American official as saying.

The administration is afraid of a repeat of last year’s events, when violence in occupied East Jerusalem led to war against the Palestinians in May.

This year, Muslims’ holy month of Ramadan starts on 2 April, Jewish Passover starts on 15 April and Christians will celebrate Easter on 17 April.

Last year’s violence against Palestinians began as a result of Israeli efforts to evict Palestinians living in the occupied East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah, efforts which are ongoing and which have heightened in recent days.

READ: UN asked to protect Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah from expulsion