Israel’s provocations ‘will affect ties with Jordan’

His Majesty King Abdullah’s statement at a joint press conference with visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron was no veiled warning to Israel.

Continued Israeli provocations in East Jerusalem, especially at the Islamic holy sites, “will affect ties with Jordan”, said the King on Monday, as Israeli forces clashed at Al Aqsa Mosque with Palestinians. 

News reports said clashes continued Tuesday. Israeli police stormed Al Aqsa Mosque for a third day and clashes erupted after Israeli police raided the mosque’s courtyards to support tours by Jewish activists.

The King could not have been clearer.

At the press conference held with Cameron, he said: “… I would like to state, in your presence, that if this continues to happen, actually as of toady, any more provocations in Jerusalem will affect the relationship between Jordan and Israel, and Jordan will have no choice but to take action, unfortunately.”

Israeli forces were seen entering the holy compound to stop Palestinians from preventing Jews celebrating the Jewish new year at Islam’s third holiest site.

It is a deliberately provocative move, like many others Israel makes. Besides the claims Israel makes on the compound, it smacks of typical action meant to make the Palestinians leave, to make place for illegal settlers.

Unfortunately Israel escalates the situation emboldened by the stony silence of the world community.

Despite its flagrant, repeated, violations of international law, Israel always gets off scot-free, more determined to trample on the rights of the Palestinians and snub the silent international community.

There is a limit, however, to one’s patience, and Jordan has made that clear.

Israel knows, no doubt, that threatening the sanctity of the Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem is a red line for the Kingdom.

If it is serious about the peace treaty it signed with Jordan, Israel should endeavour to protect it from over-zealous Jews who seem bent on undermining it by any means.

Jordan honours it commitments under the peace treaty, and expects a similar attitude from Israel.