CAIRO, March 20 (NNN-KUNA) -- Egypt expressed on Friday profound concern over the escalating tension in the occupied Palestinian territories, holding Israel fully responsible for the unrest.

"The clashes in the holy city of Jerusalem and other parts of the West Bank as well as yesterday's violence in Gaza Strip are manifestations of the Palestinians' frustration ensuing from Israel's malpractices," Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hosam Zaki said in a press briefing here.

"Regrettably, these developments coincide with the talk about international effort to resume the indirect Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations," the Egyptian senior diplomat noted.

He urged both concerned parties to exercise a self-restraint and sense of responsibility in order to break the vicious cycle.

"Egypt is watching with concern the situation and contacting the major international player with a view to deescalating the violence and preventing the enemies of peace from capitalizing on the tension," Zaki added.

About 300 Palestinians clashed with Israeli security forces in the West Bank city of Al-Khalil (Hebron) earlier Friday in protest against the escalating Jewish settlement construction and the Israeli violations of the Islamic sanctities.

On Thursday a Palestinian armed group fired a missile from Gaza Strip into Israel which responded with an air raid on the strip. -- NNN-KUNA