DAMASCUS - Syria accused Israel on Monday of "criminal" acts against Muslim holy sites in occupied Jerusalem, a day after police raided the revered Al-Aqsa mosque compound and clashed with Palestinian worshippers.
"Syria strongly denounces Israel's flagrant violations against Al-Aqsa mosque," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
"Israel is carrying out criminal acts against Muslim holy sites and Arab heritage," the ministry said.
It also urged the international community "and those who want to establish peace in the Middle East to condemn Israeli violations and act to put an end to them."
Palestinian East Jerusalem has been under illegal Israeli occupation since 1967.
Under international law, neither East nor West Jerusalem is considered Israel's capital. Tel Aviv is recognised as Israel's capital, pending a negotiated settlement with the Palestinians.
East Jerusalem is considered by the international community to be illegally occupied by Israel, in contravention of several binding UN Security Council Resolutions.
In these resolutions, the United Nations Security Council has also called for no measures to be taken to change the status of Jerusalem until a final settlement is reached between the sides.
Declaring Jerusalem as Israel's capital is an attempt to change this status, and is thus a violation of these Security Council resolutions.
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