Jordan pushing to restore Jerusalem mosque status quo – sources

Palestinians pray on Laylat al-Qadr in the course of the holy month of Ramadan, on the compound that homes Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock, recognized to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount, in Jerusalem’s Previous Metropolis April 27, 2022 REUTERS/Ammar Awad

AMMAN, April 28 (Reuters) – Jordan has intensified efforts to push Israel to respect the historic establishment of Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa mosque and keep away from violent confrontations that might threaten a wider battle, Jordanian officers and Western diplomats stated on Thursday.

The officers stated Jordan had notified Washington it was prepared to debate the problem with Israel after the top of the holy month of Ramadan subsequent week. The purpose could be to establish steps that Israel might take to return circumstances on the mosque to these of twenty-two years in the past.

Jordan accuses Israel of getting progressively modified restrictions on worship on the mosque since 2000.

The brand new diplomatic effort is “to cope with the roots of the strain and make sure that issues do not explode once more,” a Jordanian official who requested anonymity stated, including that Washington had lately been given a paper that “clearly” acknowledged the dominion’s place.

Clashes over the previous two weeks between Palestinians and Israeli police on the mosque compound have stoked Arab anger and worldwide concern a few slide again to a wider Israeli-Palestinian battle.

A tinder-box for Israeli-Arab antagonism, the compound, often called the Noble Sanctuary, is the third holiest web site in Islam. Jews confer with it because the Temple Mount and regard it because the holiest web site in Judaism.

A Western diplomat stated Jordan’s proposal didn’t embody convening a joint committee with Israel regarding Muslim and Christian shrines within the Previous Metropolis of Jerusalem. A number of Israeli media retailers stated it did, however Jordan is unwilling to concede a such a proper function for Israel.

Jordan, whose ruling Hashemite household has custodianship of the Muslim and Christian websites, says that since 2000 Israel has undermined a centuries-old custom beneath which non-Muslims don’t worship within the mosque compound.

Amman informed Washington that Israel ought to finish restrictions on staffing of Jordan’s spiritual Waqf administration and let it handle all visits by non-Muslims and forestall worship by them, the sources stated.

Israel denies accusations by Jordan and Arab states it has tried to alter the established order of Muslim holy websites within the Previous Metropolis of Jerusalem, which it occupied within the 1967 Arab-Israeli Battle. It additionally says it’s implementing a long-standing ban on Jewish prayer on the compound.

Jordan says Israel is limiting entry by Muslim worshippers and never restraining Israeli far-right nationalists whose rituals violate the previous establishment and, from an Islamic standpoint, desecrate the holy web site.

“Jordan is continuous its contacts straight with the Israelis and Washington and different worldwide events to demand that Israel respects the historic state of affairs that existed earlier than 2000,” one other Jordanian official stated.

On Friday, Israel banned non-Muslim visits till the top of Ramadan. This was a “good step to respecting the established order and easing tensions and restoring calm,” Jordan’s International Minister Ayman Safadi informed Reuters.

Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Enhancing by Bradley Perrett

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Ideas.