Jordan has called an emergency meeting of foreign ministers from Arab and Islamic nations to address escalating tensions over access to religious sites in Jerusalem’s Old City. Jordanian officials have expressed alarm at what they describe as repeated violations of a status quo agreement that has governed the compound containing al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, warning that such actions could trigger broader regional conflict.
The immediate catalyst for the diplomatic initiative was an incursion on July 23, in which more than 2,000 Israelis participated in prayers and rituals at the site. According to Jordanian characterization, this represented the most severe breach of the agreement in recent history. Additionally, Jordan has raised concerns about recruitment efforts for a special police unit focused on the Temple Mount area. Jordanian officials have indicated apprehension about potential further challenges during upcoming major Jewish holidays in September, which coincide with an Israeli election campaign.
Jordan’s foreign minister stated that the international community should recognize the dangers posed by alterations to the established arrangement. He emphasized that the situation has implications extending beyond the immediate region and could affect Muslim-majority nations worldwide. The diplomatic initiative involves countries including Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan, alongside Arab League members.
The status quo arrangement, which reserves the site for Muslim worship while designating the nearby Western Wall for Jewish prayer, has been in place for over a century and was reaffirmed in the 1994 Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty. Historical precedent shows that breaches of this arrangement have previously triggered significant violence. Jordan has also raised broader concerns about potential Palestinian displacement from the West Bank and reductions in water-sharing agreements, both of which officials characterize as destabilizing developments affecting regional stability and Jordan’s internal demographics.
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