AMMAN — The Kingdom’s
ambassador to Tel Aviv, Ghassan Majali, gained entry to Al-Aqsa Mosque and
toured its courtyards on Tuesday evening, after
Israeli forces had blocked his entry to the holy site earlier in the day, the Department of Jerusalem
Awqaf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs confirmed.
اضافة اعلان
Majali also spoke with the department’s
director-general, Azzam Al-Khatib, who briefed him on the latest developments
regarding Israeli violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Al-Mamlaka TV reported.
Majali had been barred from
entering Al-Aqsa Mosque complex by Israeli forces on Tuesday, as Israeli security
personnel on-site stated that he required authorization to enter and asked him
to leave.
In response,
Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates summoned Israel’s ambassador to the Kingdom on Tuesday afternoon and handed him a
strongly worded letter of protest to be delivered immediately to his
government.
The letter confirmed the
Jordanian government's condemnation of any measures aimed at unacceptable
interference in the affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
It reminded the Israeli
government that the Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs, and Holy Places’ Department of
Jerusalem Awqaf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs is the legal entity with
exclusive jurisdiction over all affairs at the holy site, and the entity in
charge of regulating access to it.
Since 1942, the Hashemite family
has served as Jerusalem's Custodian of Muslim and Christian holy sites.
The relationship between Jordan
and Israel has been facing tensions since Benjamin Netanyahu took office,
bringing with him the most ultra-right
and ultra-religious Israeli government
to date.
His Majesty King Abdullah in
December told CNN’s Becky Anderson that there is “concern” in Jordan about
Israel trying to change the status quo of the Hashemite custodianship of the
Muslim and Christian holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem.
During the interview, His
Majesty warned that Jordan has “red lines”.
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