Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, has cancelled a visit to London scheduled for this week. 

The visit was set to feature a series of engagements including a Friday night dinner organized by the Center for Jewish Life.

The cancellation comes after weeks of escalating tension between Palestinians and Israelis, as well as a slew of violent Palestinian terror attacks, leading to fears of a possible third Intifada. 

Jerusalem has experienced the brunt of the violence with a terror campaign of ongoing rock-throwing and firebombing which has been taking place for months. 

Additionally, two ‘car terror’ attacks took place in the capital in recent weeks, claiming four lives, including that of a three-month-old baby. The assassination attempt on Yehuda Glick, an activist for Jewish prayer rights at Temple Mount, also took place in Jerusalem last month. 

CJL co-director Rabbi Yosef Vogel said of Barkat’s cancellation: “It is obviously understandable that the Mayor is not able to join us given the very challenging situation in Israel at the moment.”

“In light of this, we will be using this opportunity for Anglo-Jewry to show solidarity with our people in Israel and we are grateful to Paralympic gold medallist Noam Gershony who has stepped in to join us for Shabbat.”

Following talks between Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Jordanian King Abdullah II in Jordan, US Secretary of State John Kerry said a path to easing tensions in the battered city had been worked out. 

“The status quo is clear and the status quo will be maintained,” Kerry said. 

Despite attempts to de-escalate violence and tension, police have maintained a heavy presence in the capital city.