Israel says will not accept international presence in east Jerusalem

Israel on Friday rejected Palestinian calls for a protection force to be deployed in east Jerusalem to quell violence around the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque.

 "Let me be crystal clear -- Israel will not agree to any international presence on the Temple Mount. Such a presence would be a change in the status quo," Israeli Deputy Ambassador David Roet told the UN Security Council.

 The 15-member council met in an emergency session to discuss weeks of escalating violence between Israel and the Palestinians in Jerusalem and the territories.

 On Friday, Palestinians torched a Jewish holy site in the West Bank as they staged a "Friday of revolution" against Israel and a man posing as a news photographer stabbed an Israeli soldier before he was shot dead.

 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the "reprehensible" attack at Joseph's Tomb in the city of Nablus and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.

 Two weeks of violence have left 39 Palestinians dead and hundreds more wounded in clashes with Israeli forces. Seven Israelis have been killed and dozens wounded.

 The surge in violence has raised fears that a third Palestinian intifada, or uprising, might erupt.