Gov’t blames Israel for extremists’ storming of Al Aqsa Mosque

AMMAN — The government on Wednesday condemned the Israeli occupation authorities for allowing Jewish extremists and settlers to break into Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif, which violated the sanctity of the mosque and offended the feelings of Muslims around the world.

Minister of State for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani said the government blames the Israeli government, an occupying force, for such a violation that encouraged settlers to "dishonour the mosque" and for not stopping Knesset members' provocative calls to storm the mosque, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Momani, who is also the government's spokesperson, warned against the consequences of such attacks and Israel's negligence to Islamic holy sites, international laws and the peace agreement with Jordan. 

He reiterated the Kingdom's unaltered stance in preserving Al Aqsa Mosque and its rejection of any attempt to change the mosque's status quo, adding that Al Aqsa Mosque is for Muslims alone.

Jordan will utilise all its legal and diplomatic options to protect holy sites, Quds Awqaf employees and prayer performers at the mosque, Momani stressed, referring, in this regard, to the Hashemite custodianship over Islamic and Christian sites in the city.

Agence France-prese (AFP) reported Wednesday that a group of hardline Jewish settlers held a prayer-protest at Al Aqsa as Israelis commemorated Jerusalem Day, marking the Israeli occupation of the Old City following its capture in the Six-Day War of 1967.

The agency said they were evicted later in the day. 

Jews are allowed to visit but not pray there to avoid provoking tensions, but the site has been the scene of frequent incidents where Jews try to break the rule. 

Earlier this month, UNESCO reached a resolution denying Jews’ historical connection to Jerusalem by presenting Israel as an occupying power there, AFP said, and Israel called the decision “absurd”.