Jordan announced it would convene an emergency meeting of foreign ministers from Arab League countries and other Islamic nations to address what it describes as an imminent threat to al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. Jordanian officials warned that Israeli actions could trigger a broader religious conflict extending beyond the region. The convening followed an escalation of visits to the compound housing al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock by Jewish religious groups, including a July 23 event involving over 2,000 Israeli visitors led by the national security minister.
Under a longstanding status quo agreement overseen by Jordan, only Muslims are permitted to pray at the al-Aqsa compound. The Western Wall, a site significant to Judaism, is reserved for Jewish prayer under this arrangement. The Temple Mount, as the site is known in Jewish tradition, is considered the holiest location in Judaism and the place where two ancient temples stood before their destruction. Jordan’s foreign minister stated the country is working through legal channels and diplomatic awareness-raising to counter what it views as violations of the status quo arrangement.
Jordan’s concerns extend beyond the religious site to broader regional issues. The country expressed alarm over potential mass deportation of Palestinians from the West Bank, which officials characterized as a critical red line. Additionally, Jordan cited Israel’s reduction of water supplies, from 100 million cubic meters annually to 50 million cubic meters, citing retaliation for Jordanian criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza.
The Jordanian government’s custodianship of the al-Aqsa compound dates back over a century and was reaffirmed following the 1967 war and in the 1994 Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty. Historical precedent shows that previous incursions by Jewish visitors to the site have sparked significant violence, including riots during the British Mandate period and violence during the second intifada following a 2000 visit by a prominent Israeli political figure. Domestic Jordanian politics have shifted as a result of regional tensions, with Islamist political parties gaining increased support, forcing the monarchy to reconsider its pace of political reform initiatives.
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