Jordanian officials and Western diplomats stated on Thursday that Jordan has intensified its efforts to urge Israel to respect the historical status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and to avoid violent confrontations that could lead to a wider conflict. The officials indicated that Jordan has informed Washington of its readiness to discuss the matter with Israel after the end of Ramadan next week. The aim is to identify steps that Israel can take to revert the situation at the mosque to what it was like 22 years ago. Jordan accuses Israel of gradually changing the restrictions on worship at the mosque since 2000.
A Jordanian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that the new diplomatic effort aims to address the roots of the tension and ensure that matters do not explode again, adding that Washington has recently received a document clearly outlining the Kingdom's position.
The clashes that occurred over the past two weeks between Palestinians and Israeli police at the mosque complex have sparked Arab anger and international concern over a potential escalation into a broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A Western diplomat stated that Jordan's proposal did not include holding a joint committee with Israel regarding Muslim and Christian holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem, though several Israeli media outlets have reported otherwise.
Jordan, which is under the Hashemite family’s guardianship of Islamic and Christian sites, claims that Israel has been undermining a centuries-old tradition since 2000 that prohibits non-Muslims from praying in the mosque complex. Sources indicated that Amman has informed Washington that Israel must lift the restrictions imposed on appointing staff within Jordan's Islamic Waqf and allow it to manage all visits from non-Muslims while preventing their worship.
Israel denies Jordan's and Arab states' accusations of attempting to change the status quo of Islamic holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem, which it occupied during the 1967 war. It also states that it maintains a long-standing ban on Jewish prayer at the sanctuary. Jordan alleges that Israel restricts access for Muslim worshippers while allowing far-right Israeli nationalists, whose actions violate the prior status quo and the sanctity of the sacred site, to enter.
Another Jordanian official stated that Jordan continues direct communications with Israelis, Washington, and other international parties, demanding that Israel respect the historical status that existed prior to 2000. On Friday, Israel banned visits from non-Muslims until the end of Ramadan. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told Reuters that this is a positive step toward respecting the status quo, reducing tensions, and restoring calm.
