John Kerry Brokers End Of Israeli-Palestinian Violence At Jerusalem Holy Site

After weeks of Israeli-Palestinian violence, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Saturday Israel has agreed to maintain the rules of worship at a Jerusalem holy site that allow only Muslims to pray there, according to the Jerusalem Post. The violence began in early October after rumors that Israel wanted to expand Jewish rights at the site, where Jews have not been allowed to pray.

The site, known as the Temple Mount to Jews and the Haram al-Sharif to Muslims, has been at the center of the conflict. Violence has resulted in the deaths of about 10 Israelis, mostly in stabbings, and about 50 Palestinians, according to the Guardian.

About 28 of the Palestinians killed are thought to have attacked Israelis. Many of the deaths have occurred in Jerusalem and in the West Bank, according to the BBC. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said in the past he does not want to change the status quo of the site, the Washington Post reported.

"Israel will continue to enforce its long-standing policy on religious worship ... at the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, including the fundamental fact that it is Muslims who pray on the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, and non-Muslims who visit," Kerry said.

Kerry also said that Israel has agreed to reaffirm Jordan’s role as custodian of the site and surveillance of the site will be constant, according to the New York Times.

In other violence in the region, Israeli authorities fatally shot a Palestinian Saturday after he tried to stab a security guard at the crossing between Israel and the West Bank, according to the Guardian. In the West Bank Friday, Palestinians reportedly threw a firebomb at a car filled with Israelis, injuring a woman and her two children.