Jordan has called for an emergency gathering of foreign ministers from Arab League countries, along with representatives from Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan, to address concerns about the status of major Muslim religious sites in Jerusalem. Jordanian officials are warning of what they characterize as an imminent threat to al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, citing recent incursions by Israeli religious groups at the compound known to Jews as the Temple Mount.
The most significant recent incident occurred on July 23, when more than 2,000 Israelis from the religious right, including settlers and the national security minister, entered the compound and performed prayers and rituals. Jordanian officials described this as the worst violation of the status quo agreement in modern history. The status quo arrangement, overseen by Jordan’s Hashemite monarchy since shortly after 1967, stipulates that only Muslims may pray at the site, while Jewish prayer is restricted to the Western Wall. Jordan has also expressed alarm over recruitment efforts for a special Temple Mount police unit composed of religious Jews, and anticipates further challenges during major Jewish holidays later this year.
Jordan’s foreign minister stated that changes to the existing arrangements could trigger religious conflict with ramifications extending throughout the Muslim world. He characterized Jerusalem as a tinderbox and emphasized the need for international awareness of the situation. The Hashemite custodianship dates back over a century and was reaffirmed in the 1994 Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty. Historical precedent shows that incursions at the compound have previously triggered significant violence, including during the British Mandate period and following a 2000 visit by Israeli political figure Ariel Sharon.
Beyond the immediate concerns over the religious site, Jordan faces broader anxieties about potential escalations in the West Bank ahead of Israeli elections in October. Jordanian officials have expressed particular concern about possible mass displacement of Palestinians, which they describe as a red line. Jordan is also grappling with reduced water supplies from Israel, having received only half the amount provided under a 2021 agreement.
The situation has contributed to growing anti-normalization sentiment within Jordan and strengthened support for Islamist political movements. The Islamic Action Front, rebranded as the Umma party, achieved over 22% of parliamentary seats, reflecting the political impact of regional developments on Jordanian domestic politics.
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