Thank you for contacting me about the situation in Jerusalem.
My ministerial colleagues and I are committed to defending freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all, and to promoting respect between different religious and non-religious communities. Indeed, promoting the right to FoRB is one of the UK's longstanding human rights priorities.
Jerusalem is a holy city to so many, and the UK remains firmly of the belief that maintaining the historic Status Quo is the only means of ensuring freedom of worship. All religious sites should be treated with utmost respect in line with UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/75/258.
I join ministers in London and officials from the British Embassy in Tel Aviv, British Consulate in Jerusalem and at the UN in calling for calm. HM Government did so most recently at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on 19 April.
It is crucial that all parties take urgent steps to reduce tensions and avoid further escalation. The UK is committed to playing its part in this regard and our officials have been engaging with the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to support them to this end.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.