By ICEJ Staff Writers

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres gave an interview with Israel Radio on Friday in which he said, among other things, that it is “completely clear that the Temple that the Romans destroyed in Jerusalem was a Jewish temple.” Palestinian officials reacted with outrage to the comment, which is supported by extensive historical writings including the New Testament, as well as archeological evidence unearthed over the last 150 years.

Fayez Abu Eitah, the secretary-general of the Fatah Revolutionary Council, said that “[The statements] are a direct attack on the Palestinian people’s right in the holy city, biased in favor of the site of occupation, and akin to granting legitimacy to Israel’s illegal presence in Jerusalem.”

Dispute Continues Over Western Wall

The leadership of Ultra-Orthodox (haredi) political factions along with Israel’s chief rabbis and other officials issued a statement Sunday demanding that the government repeal a recent cabinet resolution which paved the way for a section of the Western Wall to be set aside for prayers by self-described “progressive” streams of Judaism. The idea, which has been a point of sometimes violent contention between haredi and progressive factions for years and has even contributed to a widening split between Israel and Jewish communities in the US.

Palestinian Rioter Shot Dead in Clashes near Jenin

The IDF and Palestinian Authority medical officials reported Monday that a Palestinian was shot and killed while participating in violent riots against Israeli soldiers near Jenin Sunday evening. The PA identified the dead rioter as Muhammad Mahmoud Abu Khalifa, 16, adding that five other rioters were wounded in the incident.

Tweets Highlight Diplomatic Spat Between Israel and Mexico

A tweet made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office over the weekend voicing support for US President Donald Trump’s idea of building a wall along the US-Mexico border led to a retaliatory and rebuking Tweet by Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs Luis Videgaray. Mexico’s Jewish community joined its voice to the rebuke of Israel’s government.

“The Foreign Ministry expressed to the government of Israel, via its ambassador in Mexico, its profound astonishment, rejection and disappointment over Prime Minister Netanyahu’s message on Twitter about the construction of a border wall,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement said. “Mexico is a friend of Israel and should be treated as such by its Prime Minister.”