RAMALLAH, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The recent Israeli measures at al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem triggered a strong Palestinian backlash on Wednesday.

Adnan al-Husseini, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee, told a news conference in Ramallah that Israel has been targeting al-Aqsa Mosque for many years.

"The U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to the city encouraged Israel to carry on with rapid measures to change the characteristics of al-Aqsa Mosque and the entire holy city," said al-Husseini.

Also at the news conference, Yousef al-Mahmoud, spokesman of the Palestinian caretaker government, said the assualts in Jerusalem "against Muslim prayers are part of the Israeli election's campaign which will be held in April."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said earlier that intensive contacts were made with various countries "in order to stop the recent escalated Israeli measures in East Jerusalem," Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported.

The Palestinians want East Jerusalem, which was occupied by Israel in 1967, to be the capital of its future independent state, while Israel claims the entire city as its eternal capital.

Earlier in the day, Munir Anastas, Palestinian delegate to UNESCO, said he had presented a letter of protest to the UN agency over Israel's practices at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

A meeting of the Arab group at UNESCO will be held in two weeks to discuss Israeli violations in Jerusalem, he added.

Peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians have remained stalled since April 2014, when U.S.-sponsored negotiations broke down after nine months of futile efforts. Enditem

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