The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs sent an official letter to the Israeli Embassy in Amman protesting the presence of “Jewish extremists” on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem under police protection.
“Jewish extremists” is a euphemism for any religious-looking Jew who visits the Temple Mount.
The Temple Mount is the holiest site for the Jewish people.
Previously the Jordanian government said that Jews are defiling the Temple Mount.
The Jordanian government demanded that Israel stop allowing Jews onto the Temple Mount calling them “acts of aggression and provocation”, according to Petra, the Jordanian government’s official news agency.
It appears that Jordan is referring to an event that happened last week, when Jordanian Waqf officials attacked Israeli police and Jewish visitors on the Temple Mount, leading to the arrest of two of the violent Jordanians officials.
Jordan said that such acts [Jews on the Temple Mount] inflame the feelings of Muslims around the world, violate Article 9 of the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel and are not in line with Israeli’s legal obligations, as the occupying power, in accordance with international law.
Article 9 actually states:
PLACES OF HISTORICAL AND RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE
Each party will provide freedom of access to places of religious and historical significance.In this regard, in accordance with the Washington Declaration, Israel respects the present special role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Muslim Holy shrines in Jerusalem. When negotiations on the permanent status will take place, Israel will give high priority to the Jordanian historic role in these shrines.The Parties will act together to promote interfaith relations among the three monotheistic religions, with the aim of working towards religious understanding, moral commitment, freedom of religious worship, and tolerance and peace.(H/T Yisrael Medad)
If anyone isn’t keeping up their end of the peace treaty, it is clearly Jordan.
Last month Jordan refused to condemn a terror attack by one of their citizens visiting in Jerusalem, after he stabbed a police officer.
As of late Jordan’s role in Jerusalem is quickly being supplanted by Turkey. That may have Jordan worried, and these recent statements are their best attempts at restoring their feelings of self-worth and relevance.
