Jordan's King Abdullah vows to defend al-Aksa Mosque from 'Israeli violations'
Jordan's King Abdullah on Monday said that he would fight against "repeated violations and attacks carried out by Israel and extremist groups," and resist what he said were Israel's attempts to change the status-quo at the flashpoint Temple Mount and al-Aksa Mosque complex.
Jordan is widely accepted as the guardian of Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem, retaining custodial rights over the al-Aksa Mosque complex as part of its 1994 peace agreement with Israel.
"Our responsibility towards the Muslim holy places in Jerusalem is our top priority in the international arena, and we use all means necessary to defend al-Aksa Mosque," King Abdullah said in an interview with the Ad-Dustour daily.
Abdullah accused Israel of attempting to "violate the sanctity and compromise al-Aksa Mosque." The flashpoint complex is considered Judaism's holiest site and is the third holiest to the Muslim faith.
Palestinian belief that Israel intends to change the status quo at the site, whereby Jews are allowed to visit but not pray, has been behind much of the tension in the city sometimes leading to clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces.
King Abdullah vowed to resist what he said are Israel's "blatantly repeated attempts to change the status quo in Jerusalem regarding its landmarks and the prejudice against Islamic and Christian peoples."
"The Palestinian issue is our first priority and a supreme national interest," he said, adding that an impasse in negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians contributes to regional instability.
"Failure to reach a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue and allowing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to move away from the two-state solution feeds violence and extremism in the region," he said.
Jordan in April suspended a plan to install CCTV security cameras around the flashpoint Temple Mount complex over Palestinian opposition.
