Jordan Protests Israeli Construction Works Near Al-Aqsa Mosque

Israeli construction works near Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Amman, 03 Jumadil Akhir 1438/02 March 2017 (MINA) –  The Jordanian government has strongly protested Israeli construction works in the Umayyad palaces area adjacent to the southern wall of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and demanded immediate cessation of such works.

In a letter of protest handed to the Israeli embassy in Amman, the Jordanian government said the works, which include the construction of wooden and concrete walkways in the eastern part of the Umayyad palaces area and the installation of signage claiming the site was “purity pools used by Jewish pilgrims in the second temple period”, is an aggression on waqf land that falls under the jurisdiction of the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf Administration, and changes the site’s historical status quo, the Jordanian news agency Petra reported Wednesday.

The government said these measures constitute a direct violation of Israel’s obligations, as the occupying power according to the international law and international humanitarian law. It also said the Israeli moves are a violation of article 5 of the Jordan-Israel peace treaty.

Furthermore, the government said that the Israeli actions harm relations between the two countries and undermine efforts to pacify the situation and maintain the historical status quo in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and its surrounding.

The Jordanian government demanded the Israeli government to immediately halt such violations and remove all of the changes made at the site and restore the status quo ante. (T/RS05/RS01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)