 The visit was the first to the site by an Israeli minister since 2017 While the visit was not a combined or followed by violence It is seen as particularly inflammatory given mr. Bank veers past advocacy for changes to the status quo The visit was sharply condemned by the Palestinian Authority many others across the region and the international community as a provocation that twisted sparking further blue chat Many also warned against any changes to the status quo at the holy sites Following the visit the Israeli prime minister's office and other senior Israeli officials Emphasized that the government is committed to upholding the status quo and that the visa did not represent a deviation from it Mr. President as we have seen numerous times in the past the situation at Jerusalem's holy site is deeply fragile and Any incident or tension there can spill over and cause violence throughout the occupied Palestinian territory in Israel and elsewhere in the region With that reality in mind I reiterate the secretary general's call for all parties To refrain from steps that could escalate tensions in and around the holy sites And for all to uphold the status quo in line with the special role of the hashmid kingdom of Jordan Over the past several days The United Nations has remained in close contact with the relevant parties to de-escalate the situation and These engagements will continue in the coming days and weeks At this sensitive moment all efforts to lower tensions should be encouraged While provocations inflammatory steps Unilateral actions and threats of violence must be categorically rejected Leaders on all sides have a responsibility to lower the flames and create the conditions for calm The United Nations remains steady to assist and support these efforts. Thank you, Mr. President Thank you, Mr. Harry for his briefing I Now give the floor to the members of the Security Council. I give the floor to the representative of United Arab Emirates Say the raiz Mr. President at the outset I would like to thank the council presidency for its prompt response to the request to hold this session to Discuss the serious provocations that threaten the status quo in al-Aqsa Mosque We also thank mr. Khaled khayyari for his briefing on the latest developments Mr. President the UAE strongly condemns the storming of al-Aqsa Mosque courtyard by an Israeli Minister under the protection of Israeli forces such provocative actions reflect a lack of commitment to the existing historic and legal status of the holy sites in Jerusalem and they further destabilize the fragile situation in the occupied Palestinian territories They also constitute a serious development that moves the region further away from the desired path of peace and Contribute to perpetuating the negative trends of the conflict Moreover those actions threaten to escalate the current tensions and confrontations We are already witnessing and contribute to fueling and stoking extremism and hatred in the region in this context We condemn the vandalization of the Christian cemetery on Mount Zion those responsible for trampling the graves and desecrating the sanctity of this important historic and religious landmark must be held accountable these heinous Envious acts are part of a trend of attacks on religious sanctities, which if left unchecked will encourage more violations We stress our firm position on the need to provide full protection to al-Aqsa mosque and hold all violations taking place there Which provoke millions of Muslims around the world? Given the holy status of al-Aqsa mosque We also emphasize the need to respect the custodial rule of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan over the holy sites and Endowments in accordance with the international law and the historic status quo and not to compromise the authority of the administration of Jerusalem's Awkaaf and al-Aqsa mosque affairs at its mandate to manage all the affairs of al-Haram as-Sharif including its entry procedures Mr. President the events of the past year and the long history of this conflict Reveal that the coast of unilateral measures is very high as They are a primary cause of the rising levels of violence and instability They also undermine efforts to find a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian Israeli conflict and To achieve the two-state solution based on relevant UN resolutions Therefore we in the Security Council must adopt a unified position against any actions that could inflame tensions Or escalate the situation in the region including This latest attempt we witnessed on Tuesday at al-Aqsa mosque We also remind the parties of their responsibilities to refrain from all measures that contribute to fueling hatred and exclusion in conclusion We stress the importance of reviving regional and international efforts to advance the Middle East peace process in order to achieve the two-state solution and Establish an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital Living side-by-side with Israel in peace and security As well as mutual recognition. Thank you, Mr. President Of United Arab Emirates for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of China Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President. First of all, I thank ASG Ikari for his Briefing mate just now at the council's regular open meeting two weeks ago I said that I hope the new year will bring you hopes to the Palestinian people But what we are now witnessing is obviously Not the right way to start the new year a few days ago It's really government officials enter the compound of Arasak mosque, which aggravated tensions on the ground China is deeply worried about this In recent years Unilateral actions in the holy sites in East Jerusalem have once and again intensified problems and confrontations Triggering bloody conflicts many times this truly reflects the sensitivity of the character and status of religious sites at present The act of Israeli officials Has resulted in the fragile and grave situation on the ground China calls for the restoration and maintenance of peace and tranquility In the rigid in the religious sites and calls on the party's concern to remain calm and restrained to prevent a further escalation of tensions Israel in particular should stop all incitements and Provocations and should refrain from any unilateral action that may lead to a deterioration of the situation China stands for upholding the international rule of law and abiding by international consensus By the international consensus on the question of Jerusalem the security council resolutions and your critically Condemn all measures aimed at altering the demographic Composition character and status of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 including is Jerusalem The party's concern should earnestly maintain the status quo of the holy sites in Jerusalem and respect Jordan's custodianship of the holy sites According to the requirements set out in the security council and general assembly resolutions. We have noticed that these really The Israeli leader's expression of commitment to maintain the status quo of the holy site With the hope that the relevant commitments can be translated into constructive policies and actions Mr. President will underlies the repeated cycles of tensions between Palestine and Israel is the repeatedly delayed Implementation of the true state solution facts have proved once again That piecemeal crisis control measures can hardly play an effective role much less can it replace a comprehensive and just solution the international community should increase its sense of urgency push Palestine in Israel to restart peace talks as soon as possible on the basis of the two solutions Two-state solution resolve the Jerusalem issue and other final status issues and realize Peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel at an early date countries With significant influence in this regard should assume the responsibility and effectively play a constructive role I would like to reiterate China's supports the establishment of a fully sovereign and independent state of Palestine based on the 1967 borders With each Jerusalem as its capital We will continue to work with the international community to practice true multilateralism and make positive contributions to the comprehensive just and Lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue and the attainment of durable peace and common security in the Middle East. Thank you, Mr President I Thank the representative of China for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the United States Thank You mr. President and thank you assistant secretary general Kiari for your briefing Let me start by saying that the United States remains committed to us to state solution in which Israel lives in peace and security alongside a Palestinian state and We are concerned by any unilateral acts that exacerbate tensions or undermine the viability of a two-state solution As underscored by both president Biden and secretary Blinken The United States firmly supports the preservation of the historic status quo with respect to the holy sites in Jerusalem especially on the Haram al-Sharif Temple Mount We also deeply appreciate the special role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan as custodian of Jerusalem's holy sites Secretary Blinken has said very clearly that it's absolutely critical for all sides to exercise restraint Refrain from provocative actions in rhetoric At the Haram al-Sharif Temple Mount and other holy sites in Jerusalem both in word and in practice In the spirit we oppose any and all unilateral actions that depart from the historic status quo which are unacceptable We note that Prime Minister Netanyahu's governing platform calls for preservation of the status quo with relation to the holy places We expect the government of Israel to follow through on that commitment colleagues The United States is also concerned by the rise in deaths and injuries amidst heightened tensions in recent months We urge both Israelis and Palestinians to take the necessary steps to restore calm prevent further loss of life and preserve the possibility of a two-state solution We must preserve that possibility and We must ensure all Israelis and Palestinians Enjoy equal measures of freedom justice security and prosperity Thank you, Mr. President I thank the representative of the United States for their statement Now I give the floor to the representative of Albania Thank you, Mr. President We have left behind a year that has you are watching live from New York an Emergency session of the United Nations Security Council discussions around that controversial visit to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem by Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gavir strong words right now Coming from the ambassadors of China the UAE and the US as well Watching all the developments with us is our senior US correspondent Mike Wagenheim He is there at the UN headquarters and as expected that condemnation was very strong Lots of talk about unilateral action talk about as well the two-state solution and a need to quell tensions Breakdown what we've heard so far You know there was something Semantical in in there Benita because the UAE deputy ambassador who spoke there didn't directly accuse Israel of breaking the status quo The United States representative didn't directly accuse Israel breaking the status quo They both spoke of of provocations. They both spoke of things that could upset Regional peace could could lead to regional tensions That's something that that needs to be discussed further probably not in an emergency session of the UN Security Council, which by the way is going to be the point that Israeli ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdogan is going to make soon that unless we're talking about Gray violations of international law unless we're talking about something that you know intentionally With a weapon fired something like that that could set off a conflict if we're just talking about a stroll by a minister Well, this shouldn't be leading to this type of language and certainly shouldn't be leading to the UN Security Council session But I actually found the remarks by the UAE representatives and the US represents to be fairly tepid Based on what we were really expecting here. I think Israel won out in the end And so the situation continues senior US correspondent Mike Wagenheim at the UN headquarters. Thank you for that update Mike Onto other news now one of the Israeli courts central legal parameters