Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone following Friday’s operation near Al-Aqsa Mosque that killed two Israeli police, with three Palestinian attackers also shot dead.

“The president (Abbas) expressed his strong rejection and condemnation of the incident at the blessed Al-Aqsa mosque and his rejection of any act of violence from any side, especially in places of worship,” official Palestinian news agency WAFA said.

“Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu … called for calm on all sides.”

Netanyahu’s office confirmed the phone call in a statement that said Abbas had condemned the attack.

“The prime minister said that Israel will take all the necessary measures in order to ensure the security on the (holy site) without changes in the status quo,” a statement from his office said.

Source: AFP