Jordan calls on Israel to halt 'violations' of Al-Aqsa

Jordan today called on Israel to immediately halt its “violations” at Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque, holding Israel responsible for the safety of Palestinian worshippers.

Jordanian government spokeswoman Jumana Ghneimat issued the appeal in response to reported attacks on worshippers by Israeli security forces inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Ghneimat went on to condemn “ongoing Israeli provocations at the mosque compound, including the storming of the site on Friday by Israeli police and their assault on Palestinian worshippers and employees of the [Jordan-run] Religious Endowments Authority.”

“Such reprehensible practices violate the sanctity of this holy place, provoke the feelings of Muslims around the world, and violate Israel’s legal obligations as an occupying power in East Jerusalem,” she added.

READ: Jordan protests against Jewish settlers’ raid of Al-Aqsa Mosque

Ghneimat also described recent events at Al-Aqsa as “a violation of international conventions that stress the need to respect places of worship”.

Dozens of Palestinians were injured today when Israeli forces entered East Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque complex and began attacking Muslim worshippers, according to local officials.

In late 2000, a visit to the Al-Aqsa by controversial Israeli politician Ariel Sharon sparked a years-long popular uprising against the Israeli occupation in which thousands of Palestinians lost their lives.