Jordan Summons Israel Envoy over Jerusalem Mufti
Jordan on Wednesday summoned Israeli Ambassador Daniel Nevo after MPs unanimously demanded the government expel him following Israel's detention of the mufti of Jerusalem, state media reported.
Interior Minister Hussein Majali, who is acting foreign minister, summoned Nevo, the official news agency Petra reported.
"These Israeli actions violate international law and obstruct peace efforts. As occupying force, Israel is responsible for preventing such provocations. Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa are a red line," Majali said.
Majali asked Nevo "to convey this message to his government in a very clear way," Petra reported.
The development came after the lower house of parliament "unanimously demanded the government ask the Israeli ambassador to leave Jordan, and recall the Jordanian ambassador in Israel," Walid Obeidat, Petra said.
The non-binding vote came in response to "Israeli occupation measures at Al-Aqsa mosque" in the Old City, in the annexed eastern sector of Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Abdullah Nsur told MPs his government "views the Israeli violations in a very serious way."
Nsur added that the Jordanian embassy in Tel Aviv "will take all necessary measures to respond to these hideous crimes."
"If things develop, the government will ask the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting."
Israeli police questioned Hussein on Wednesday over a "disturbance" at Al-Aqsa mosque compound a day earlier, Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.
They released him six hours later without charge.
Mohammed Qudah, Jordan's Islamic affairs minister, said: "Israel has prevented worshipers from entering the mosque. It plans to build a bridge to link Al-Aqsa to some nearby settlements."
"Israeli excavations around the mosque have noticeably increased. Around 62 synagogues have been built around Al-Aqsa to form a circle around it," Petra quoted him as saying.
Qudah added that "the most dangerous development was when hundreds of settlers backed by the Israel army entered Al-Aqsa this morning."
"At the same time waqf (Islamic affairs) officials were prevented from going to their work, while materials needed for maintenance of the mosque were not allowed," he said.
The site, which sits just above the Western Wall plaza, houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosques. It is also venerated by Jews as the place where their two ancient temples once stood.
Some MPs demanded Jordan scrap its 1994 peace agreement with Israel, Petra said, but a statement by the parliament did not mention the treaty.
"The lower house of parliament condemns Israel's dangerous escalation. Its repercussions will impact the entire region and create a new cycle of violence, insecurity and instability," the MPs said in a statement.
In March, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas signed a deal with Jordan's King Abdullah II, confirming a 1924 verbal agreement giving Amman custodianship over Muslim and Christian sites in Jerusalem.
Source: Agence France Presse
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