Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque facing ‘imminent’ threat of Israeli takeover, says Jordan

Jordan is convening an emergency meeting of foreign ministers from Arab and Islamic nations to address what it describes as an "imminent" threat of an Israeli takeover of the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem. Amman fears this could ignite a religious conflict.

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This is a constant threat, a dangerous threat that we’re trying to counter in every tool that we have possible.

The Jordanian warning comes amid a pattern of escalating incursions by Jewish religious extremists onto the compound, which houses the al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock. These actions violate a long-standing status quo treaty overseen by Jordan's Hashemite monarchy, which permits only Muslims to pray at the site. On July 23rd, over 2,000 Israelis, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, entered the area, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, and performed prayers and rituals, which Jordanian officials deemed the most severe violation in modern history.

Jordanian officials are also concerned about a recent recruitment drive for a special Temple Mount police unit for religious Jews. They anticipate further challenges to Jordan's traditional custodianship, particularly with major Jewish holidays approaching in September. These holidays will occur during an intense election campaign for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition, potentially increasing political pressure for actions at the holy site.

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We warn that tampering with the status quo ... could trigger a religious conflict that will reverberate beyond Palestine and Jordan into the whole Muslim world.

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi stressed the gravity of the situation, describing it as a "constant threat" that Jordan is countering through all available means. He warned that altering the status quo could lead to a religious conflict with repercussions far beyond Palestine and Jordan, affecting the entire Muslim world. Safadi, who will host the meeting including counterparts from Arab League countries, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan, urged the international community to recognize the danger, calling Jerusalem a "tinderbox."

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We’re trying to explain the danger. We’re protesting legally. We are trying to create awareness of the imminent danger in the continuation of those Israeli measures.