Malaysia's Islamic Party (PAS) strongly condemned on Tuesday the "atrocities
by the Zionist entity on Palestinians in Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and called for jihad against Israel," reported Iran News Agency (IRNA).
"The Zionist regime's crimes in all of occupied Palestine prove once more that peaceful steps bear no fruit," PAS vice-president, Ustaz Hassan Shukri, told IRNA.
"PAS calls for the pursuit of Jihad and the Intifada in Palestine," he said, adding that Palestinians should "continue the uprising in the face of Zionist repression."
Ustaz Hassan also called on Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to cut off negotiations with Israel, IRNA added.
"Arafat should stop negotiating with the Jewish people, who do not want peace," he said.
Meanwhile, Japan urged restraint after five days of violence between Israeli security forces and Palestinian demonstrators claimed at least 50 lives, reported AFP.
The clashes must not be allowed to jeopardize the Middle East peace process, Foreign Minister Yohei Kono told a news conference.
"We must not allow there to be more victims and this should not get in the way of an important opportunity that could bring a fair and lasting peace to the Middle East," Kono said.
"Our country will ask both parties not to resort to violence and not to provoke each other," he said.
"We strongly urge them to exercise full restraint in order to stabilize the situation as soon as possible." - (Several Sources)
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