Jordan 'strongly' condemns Israeli minister's decision to fund storming of Aqsa Mosque

AMMAN — Jordan on Tuesday condemned in the strongest terms the allocation of funds by the Israeli heritage minister to support settler incursions into Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif.

The Foreign Ministry condemned the decision as a "flagrant" violation of international law, calling for a firm international stance to end Israeli violations.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Sufian Qudah reiterated the Kingdom’s condemnation and absolute rejection of the "escalatory move" by the extremist Israeli government in allocating funds to support these incursions. 

The spokesperson said in a statement that the move reflects "Israel’s systematic policy of altering the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites, and of imposing temporal and spatial division".

Qudah stressed that the move is a continuation of the official Israeli policy to Judaise Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif. He warned of the potential for escalation in the West Bank, particularly following the expansion of Israeli military operations and settler terrorism in the occupied Palestinian territory.

He reiterated that Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif, encompassing 144 dunums, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, underscoring that the Jordan-run Jerusalem Awqaf and Aqsa Affairs Department is the sole authority responsible for supervising the site and managing entry, in accordance with international law and the historical and legal status quo. 

Qudah called on Israel to stop all practices and violations against Al Aqsa Mosque, respect its sanctity, and uphold the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites.