Jordan announced plans to convene an emergency gathering of foreign ministers from Arab and Islamic nations, citing what it characterizes as an escalating danger to key Muslim religious sites in Jerusalem. Jordanian officials expressed concern about recent incursions onto the compound housing al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, which they say violate a decades-old agreement under which only Muslims are permitted to pray at the location.
According to Jordanian accounts, a July 23 event in which more than 2,000 Israelis participated in prayers and rituals across the compound represented the most severe breach of the arrangement in contemporary times. The compound, referred to as the Temple Mount by Jewish communities, holds significance as the holiest site in Judaism, with historical records noting the destruction of two temples in ancient periods. Under the existing agreement, the Western Wall—a structure that remained after Roman destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE—is designated for Jewish prayer. Jordan also expressed alarm regarding recruitment efforts for a special police unit focused on the Temple Mount and anticipated potential escalation during major Jewish holidays later in the year.
Jordan’s foreign minister characterized the situation as a persistent and dangerous threat, warning that alterations to the established arrangement could spark religious conflict extending beyond the immediate region. The emergency meeting would bring together officials from Arab League countries alongside representatives from Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan. The foreign minister emphasized that Jerusalem presents considerable risks and urged international awareness of what Jordan views as mounting dangers from Israeli actions.
Jordan’s custodianship of the al-Aqsa compound dates to the early twentieth century and was reaffirmed following the 1967 conflict and the 1994 Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty. Historical precedent shows that previous incursions triggered civil unrest and extended periods of violence. Beyond immediate concerns about the religious sites, Jordan expressed broader anxieties about potential developments in the West Bank and their effects on the country’s stability, including economic implications and demographic considerations, given that Palestinians and their descendants constitute more than half of Jordan’s population. The situation has intensified political pressures within Jordan, with Islamic political movements gaining increased support partly in response to regional developments.
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