Socio-Economics History Blog

Socio-Economics History Blog

Jordan Protests After Israeli Minister Suggests Changing Temple Mount Status Quo

by mosesman
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan during a visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City on July 31, 2015. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
  • Jordan Protests After Israeli Minister Suggests Changing Temple Mount Status Quo
    by TOI STAFF, https://www.timesofisrael.com/
    Amman warns allowing Jewish prayer at Jerusalem holy site would have serious consequences, but Israeli foreign minister says Erdan has right to make suggestion.
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    Jordan on Tuesday slammed Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan for saying Israel should work to change the status quo on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. As part of an arrangement in place since the 1967 Six Day War, when Israel captured the Old City and East Jerusalem from Jordan, non-Muslims are barred from praying at the Temple Mount, which is the holiest site in Judaism and third holiest in Islam.
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    The compound was the site of clashes between Muslim worshipers and police on Sunday over the entry of Jews during the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, which this year coincided with the Jewish fast day of Tisha B’Av.
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    Erdan, whose ministry oversees police responsible for security at the Temple Mount, voiced support in an interview Tuesday for changing the existing arrangements there. “I think there is in an injustice in the status quo that has existed since ’67,” he told Israel’s Radio 90. “We need to work to change it so in the future Jews, with the help of God, can pray at the Temple Mount.”
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    He clarified that he opposes introducing such a change unilaterally. “This needs to be achieved by diplomatic agreements and not by force,” Erdan said.
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    In a statement carried by the official Petra news agency, a spokesman for Jordan’s foreign ministry said the country rejected Erdan’s comments and warned any change to the status quo at the Temple Mount could have serious consequences. The spokesman said Jordan sent a letter of protest over the public security minister’s remarks through diplomatic channels.
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    Under the 1994 peace treaty between the countries, Israel recognizes Jordan as the custodian of the Temple Mount and Jerusalem holy sites.
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    Responding to the Jordanian statement, Foreign Minister Israel Katz defended Erdan and said Israel was the sovereign over the holy site, though he noted Jordan’s role as the Islamic custodian there.
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