Jordan denounces Jewish extremists storming Dome of the Rock

Jordan has denounced Israeli Knesset Member for the Likud Party Moshe Feiglin’s storming of Al-Aqsa Sanctuary, calling the incident an extremely dangerous escalation, spokesperson of the Jordanian government Mohammed Al-Momani told Turkey’s Anadolu Agency.

Jordan’s Minister of Information is holding the Israeli government responsible for allowing “extremists to constantly violate Al-Aqsa Mosque and its surroundings,” vowing that Jordan will confront all Israeli attempts to target the Mosque.

The Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage stated on Wednesday that: “Knesset Deputy Speaker MK Moshe Feiglin stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque from the Mughrabi Gate guarded by Israeli police and special forces.”

According to Anadolu Agency, the Foundation also described how: “Feiglin toured the area surrounding the Dome of the Rock and the eastern side of the Mosque to provoke the Palestinian students, and then moved to the Tawbah and Rahmah Gates.”

Al-Momani pointed out that the Israeli policy to violate the holy sites in Jerusalem is provoking hostility and hatred towards Israel at a time when the international community is strengthening its efforts to renounce extremism and violence and bring the followers of all religions together to promote tolerance and respect for others.

Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs is the official custodian of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the endowments in Jerusalem according to international law, which recognizes Jordan as the last supervisor of these sanctuaries before their occupation by Israel in 1967.

According to the Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty signed in Wadi Araba in 1994, Jordan is granted custodianship over the holy city’s religious affairs. Moreover, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed an agreement in March granting Jordan the right to “defend Jerusalem and the holy sites” in Palestine.

Al-Aqsa mosque and Palestinian worshipers witness daily harassments and incursions by Jewish extremists protected by the Israeli army and police forces. These provocations and aggressions anger the Palestinians and often result in clashes between the two sides.