Palestinians urge UN intervention in Jerusalem

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Palestinian authority has urged the United Nations to step in and quell growing unrest with Israel in Jerusalem. The appeal comes after a clash at a sacred mosque two weeks ago.

Palestinian Foreign Minister visited New York to ask UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to help ease tension in Jerusalem.

He said he briefed Ban about the Israel's escalating measures against Palestinians in Jerusalem and the actions the Israelis have taken in recent days against the al-Aqsa Mosque.

Tensions boiled over two weeks ago when police and protesters clashed near Al-Aqsa mosque, a flashpoint site sacred to both Muslims and Jews.

What triggered the incident remains unclear, but the dispute over access to the holy site was at the root of it.

Israeli security forces control access to the area and regularly prohibit young Muslim men from entering the holy site in Jerusalem's Old City.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction called for a general strike on Friday in a bid to ease tensions. Palestinian leaders expressed concerns of another battle before prayers at the mosque.