Palestine accuses Israel of "endless" raids on Jerusalem shrine

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye on Monday held the Israeli government responsible for the "endless" raids on Al-Aqsa Mosque and the assaults against its worshippers in Jerusalem.

"The Israeli violations against Al-Aqsa Mosque are flagrant and systematic, and contradict the freedom of worshipping," Ishtaye said in a press statement issued after his cabinet's weekly meeting.

The Palestinian prime minister warned of the consequences of such violations and practices, saying they "aim at turning the conflict into a religious one in the Middle East."

Ishtaye also condemned the Israeli settlers for expelling Palestinians out of their farms and preventing them from reaching their groves to pick up their crops.

He called on the international community, Arab and Islamic states to "bear their responsibilities toward ensuring protection" of the Palestinians and their holy places.