Under strict security measures and amid growing tensions between both parties, Lapid visited the area on Sunday in the company of Police Chief Kobi Shabtai, officials and legislators.

We strongly condemn Lapid’s provocative visit and his promises to extremists to deploy more occupation forces in Jerusalem with the pretext of providing protection during the Jewish holidays, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry denounced on its website.

According to the statement, Lapid spoke as if only Jewish holidays were celebrated in April, disregarding Muslim and Christian festivities.

Lapid’s visit, surrounded by police officers, is a conclusive proof that he is an occupier and is afraid of walking on occupied ground, the statement claimed.

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