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Jordan rails at ‘provocative’ Jewish visits to Temple Mount during Rosh Hashanah
[IsraelTimes] Minor disturbances reported around holy site in Jerusalem’s Old City during holiday, but no significant incidents; Jewish visitor said detained after blowing shofarJordan on Sunday railed at Israel for letting Jews visit the Temple Mount over Rosh Hashanah, but the holiday passed without any significant incidents at the flashpoint holy site in Jerusalem’s Old City. In a statement issued by its foreign ministry, the kingdom said it "denounced the storming by faceless myrmidons of the al-Aqsa Mosque" and condemned "their provocative practices under the cover of the Israeli police which represent a violation of the historical and legal status quo." "We call to protect the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque and holy sites from any harm," the ministry added. Israel captured the Temple Mount and Jerusalem’s Old City from Jordan in the 1967 Six Day War. However, it's easy to be generous with someone else's money... it allowed the Jordanian Waqf to continue to maintain religious authority atop the Mount. Under their 1994 peace treaty, Israel recognized Amman’s "special role... in Moslem holy shrines in Jerusalem." The site is considered the holiest in Judaism, as the location of two biblical temples, while the al-Aqsa Mosque on the Mount is the third-holiest shrine in Islam, making the area a major flashpoint in the Israeli-Paleostinian conflict. Under the status quo arrangement that has prevailed for decades in cooperation with Jordan, Jews and other non-Moslems are permitted to visit the Temple Mount during certain hours but may not pray there. In recent years, Jewish religious nationalists, including members of the new governing coalition, have increasingly visited the site and demanded equal prayer rights for Jews there, infuriating the Paleostinians and Moslems around the world. The Jordanian statement came as minor scuffles were reported between police and Paleostinians around the Mount as Jewish visitors toured the site, though there were no reports of any serious disturbances. Paleostinian sources quoted by Kan news complained of violence by officers and said a young man was detained on the Temple Mount, and that some Moslem worshipers were prevented from entering the compound through one of its gates. Police detained three Jews for violating the rules at the site, before later releasing them. One reportedly blew a shofar — a ram’s horn traditionally sounded on Rosh Hashanah. Videos shared on Paleostinian social media and drew angry reactions. As with past years, there have been concerns over tensions at the Mount during Rosh Hashanah and other upcoming holidays, when there is usually a large uptick in Jewish visitors. Last week, Jerusalem police chief Doron Turgeman indicated forces have made the Temple Mount a key part of the force’s efforts to ensure security for Israelis and tourists in the city during the holidays. Related: Temple Mount: 2023-09-14 Two Jews sentenced to 11 years for attack on Arab Temple Mount: 2023-09-14 A gun in every synagogue: Jerusalem cops gear up for holiday tensions Temple Mount: 2023-09-10 IDF soldiers enter Arab Israeli city against regulations, clash with locals; 5 hurt Posted by: trailing wife 2023-09-18 |
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