Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Jordan minister slams Israeli ‘escalation’ in Aqsa



Jordan has condemned Israeli “escalation in Al-Aqsa” in al-Quds (Jerusalem), following a visit by a far-right Israeli minister to the mosque compound.




On Sunday, Israeli soldiers broke into the compound and attacked Palestinian worshippers with gas bombs and rubber bullets. The violent assault was carried out during a visit by Israeli Housing Minister Uri Ariel to the mosque.



“Jordan rejects Israeli escalation in Al-Aqsa,” Jordan’s Minister of Information Mohammad Momani said in a statement carried by state-run Petra news agency on Monday.



The Al-Aqsa compound is Islam’s third-holiest site after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.


In 2000, a provocative visit to the site by former Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon triggered a second Intifada or uprising, during which thousands of Palestinians were killed and injured.



“…Jordan warns Israel not to try to impose anything new related to Al-Aqsa,” the statement also said.



Knesset (the Israeli parliament) has discussed a plan to annex the site.


The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has condemned the debate as a “dangerous escalation,” calling it part of Israel’s goal to “Judaize Jerusalem.”


The Palestinian Authority and the resistance movement Hamas have also warned against Israeli plans to impose “sovereignty” on the Al-Aqsa Mosque.


HN/HSN/HMV



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