UN deplores Palestinians deaths in Jerusalem

A Palestinian uses a slingshot against Israeli soldiers during clashes in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Friday, July 21, 2017. Israel police severely restricted Muslim access to a contested shrine in Jerusalem's Old City on Friday to prevent protests over the installation of metal detectors at the holy site.(AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi)
A Palestinian uses a slingshot against Israeli soldiers during clashes in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Friday, July 21, 2017. Israel police severely restricted Muslim access to a contested shrine in Jerusalem's Old City on Friday to prevent protests over the installation of metal detectors at the holy site.(AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi)

JERUSALEM (AP) - The United Nations says Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "deeply deplores" the death of three Palestinians in clashes with Israeli security forces and urges Israeli and Palestinian leaders to refrain from actions that could further escalate the volatile situation in Jerusalem's Old City.

U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Guterres also calls on all political, religious and community leaders "to help reduce tension."

Escalating Israeli-Palestinian tensions over the Holy Land's most contested shrine boiled over into violence on Friday that killed three Palestinians in street clashes in Jerusalem. Police say a Palestinian attacker also killed three Israelis at a West Bank settlement.

Haq said "the secretary-general reiterates that the sanctity of religious sites should be respected as places for reflection, not violence."

He said Guterres calls for the killings of the Palestinians "to be fully investigated."

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