Amid escalating diplomatic tensions with Jordan over recent clashes on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Monday that he viewed comments blaming Israel for the violence “with the utmost severity.”
Bennett spoke after Israel’s Foreign Ministry directly accused Jordan of “supporting those who … resort to violence.”
Referring to statements made by the Jordanian prime minister earlier in the day, Bennett fumed at “the statements accusing Israel of violence against us,” and fumed that “there are those who are using rocks and violence against us.” the citizens of the State of Israel.
That’s not acceptable for us,” he said. “This is a reward for the instigators, particularly Hamas, who are trying to incite violence in Jerusalem. We will not allow that.”
Bennett vowed, “The State of Israel will continue to provide for and protect the dignity of all of us so that everyone in Jerusalem can celebrate.” And most importantly, he said, “Our armed forces will continue to provide security for the citizens of the State of Israel.”
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While Jordan was not specifically mentioned in Bennett’s statement, relations between Amman and Jerusalem appear to have deteriorated rapidly in recent days following violent clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police at the holy site.
Earlier Monday, Jordanian Prime Minister Hir Khasawneh hailed Palestinian rioters and used unusually hostile language to condemn “Zionist sympathizers” and what he called Israel’s “occupational government.”
“I salute every Palestinian and all the staff of the Jordanian Islamic Waqf who stand proud as minarets and hurl their stones in a volley of tones at the Zionist sympathizers who are desecrating the Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the occupying Israeli government.” Khasawneh told a session of Jordan’s parliament.
Jordanian Prime Minister Bishr Khasawneh speaks during a news conference with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh in the West Bank city of Ramallah December 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed, File)
Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded directly to the Jordanian Prime Minister’s remarks, tweeting that “statements by senior officials in the Kingdom of Jordan are serious and unacceptable.”
“The sovereignty of Israel in Jerusalem as the capital is the guarantee of religious freedom for members of all religions in the city. The attempts by extremist and terrorist elements like Hamas to inflame the territory through a false anti-Israel campaign are transparent and should be condemned,” he added.
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry has summoned Israel’s envoy to the Kingdom, Deputy Ambassador Sami Abu Janeb, to reprimand him for the actions of Israeli security forces at the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City.
The State Department “convened the Chargé d’Affaires of the Israeli Embassy in Amman … to deliver a message of protest against illegitimate and provocative Israeli violations of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque,” it said in a statement.
“The charge d’affaires have been informed of a message of protest to be sent to his government immediately, including calls for an immediate halt to Israeli encroachments and attempts aimed at changing the historical and legal situation,” the ministry added at Al-Aqsa.
Following Abu Janeb’s subpoena, the Israeli Foreign Ministry accused Jordan of “damaging efforts to bring about peace in Jerusalem and supporting those who violate the sanctity of the holidays and resort to violence that endangers the lives of Muslim and Jewish citizens alike.”
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said he intends to hold a meeting in the coming days with representatives of Arab League members from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Qatar, Tunisia and Algeria for an urgent discussion on the situation in Jerusalem and Israel’s “aggression”. to convene ”
Also on Monday, 87 members of Jordan’s parliament signed a letter calling for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador in protest at Israeli “aggression” at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi at a press conference in Berlin on March 10, 2021. (Kay Nietfeld / POOL / AFP)
Jordan’s King Abdullah II spoke to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi on Monday about the ongoing clashes. Abdullah’s office said on Twitter that the two had “stressed the need to end all illegal and provocative Israeli actions at Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
On Friday morning, nearly 500 Palestinian rioters were arrested and more than 150 people were injured in violence in and around Al-Aqsa after Palestinians threw stones and clashed with Israeli police, who entered the mosque to confront them.
On Sunday, Palestinian rioters threw stones at Israeli buses heading to the Western Wall as well as the Temple Mount grounds to prevent non-Muslims from visiting the grounds. Police responded by entering the premises and dispersing the crowd with riot control measures.
According to the Red Crescent, 17 Palestinians were being treated for injuries sustained in clashes with police at the site on Sunday morning, five of whom were taken to hospital. Police said nine Palestinians were arrested.
Police said officers were working to distance the Palestinians so the visits to the Temple Mount could take place, and later Jewish visitors were seen touring the site. Bennett said Sunday that Israel Defense Forces have “freedom” to continue operations to maintain security, while stressing officials were working to restore calm.
Jordan’s Abdullah condemned Israel for the clashes, criticized it for allowing Jewish pilgrims to enter the site and called on the government to respect “the historical and legal status quo” there, according to a Royal Hashemite Court statement.
“His Majesty King Abdullah II directs the government to continue regional and international efforts to halt Israeli escalation and to advocate for an international position that puts pressure on Israel,” the statement said.
Palestinians chant slogans and wave Hamas flags during a protest against Israel in front of the Dome of the Rock Shrine at the Aqsa Mosque compound on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City, April 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
Jordan’s foreign ministry said that “the Israeli police have no right to arrange visits to the Temple Mount by non-Muslims,” claiming that only the Islamic Waqf of Jerusalem has the authority to arrange such visits.
“Israel’s actions to change the status quo on the mountain are a dangerous escalation. Israel bears full responsibility for the consequences of the current escalation, which is frustrating efforts to bring about calm,” the statement added.
Jordan has long claimed that its treaties with Israel grant it guardianship of Jerusalem’s Christian and Muslim holy sites; While Israel has never accepted this claim, it does grant day-to-day administration of the Temple Mount to the Jordan-funded Waqf.
The recent clashes were also addressed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said in a tweet that his country “will always stand by the side of the Palestinians,” and by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who called on the US to to intervene.
Many Jews head to the Western Wall and the Old City during Passover week, which began on Friday evening. Non-Muslims can only visit the Temple Mount at certain times and are not officially allowed to pray at the site, which is considered the holiest in Judaism and the third holiest in Islam.
However, recent reports have shown that police sometimes turn a blind eye when such prayers take place.