The European Union Saturday expressed deep concern over the grave escalation of violence in recent days in Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Lebanon. “Last night again, deadly terrorist attacks have occurred in Tel Aviv, one of them killing an Italian tourist. The EU expresses its total condemnation of these acts of violence,” the bloc’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement. “This must cease,” he urged. “The EU calls for an immediate end to the ongoing violence. Everything must be done to prevent the conflict from spreading,” said EU High Representative Borrell in a statement. “This upsurge in violence follows days of tension and clashes at the holy sites, including the intervention and the use of force by Israeli police inside the compound of the Al Aqsa mosque,” he noted. The EU condemned “the violent incidents which have happened in the holy sites and reminds that the status quo of all the holy sites must be preserved.” Borrell also condemned the rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza and the territory of Lebanon and the attack in Tel Aviv last night, that killed an Italian tourist, as well as the killing of two Israelis in West Bank on Friday. “Israel has the right to defend itself. At the same time, any response must be proportionate,” he added. “We urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to avoid further escalation and promote calm for the ongoing religious holidays,” he added. The upsurge in violence followed days of tension and clashes at the holy sites, including the intervention and the use of force by Israeli police inside the Al-Aqsa mosque compound. Israeli police said Wednesday it detained 350 Palestinians from the Al-Aqsa mosque complex in East Jerusalem, with witnesses saying they used excessive force, including tear gas. Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and later annexed the entire city in 1980 – a move never recognized by the international community. — Agencies