Jerusalem - Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas on Friday ordered the suspension of all official contact
with Israel until it removed new security measures at a
Jerusalem holy site.
Palestinians have clashed with Israeli security forces
outside the shrine for days and on Friday three were killed when
fighting broke out as people protested against the installation
of metal detectors at entrances to the Noble Sanctuary-Temple
Mount compound that is holy to Muslims and Jews.
"I declare the suspension of all contacts with the Israeli
side on all levels until it cancels its measures at Al-Aqsa
mosque and preserves the status quo," Abbas said in a brief
televised speech after meeting his aides, referring to a mosque
forming part of the holy site.