Jordan has issued a stark warning over what it describes as an "imminent" threat to the long-standing status of Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque compound, prompting the convening of an emergency meeting of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers. The move comes amid escalating tensions following recent Israeli actions, including mass visits by Jewish religious groups to the site, which also houses the Dome of the Rock.
The emergency meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, was announced by Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, who cautioned that any alteration to the existing arrangement—under which only Muslims are permitted to pray at the compound—could ignite a wider religious crisis with repercussions far beyond the Palestinian territories.
Jordan's Alarm Over Israeli Actions
According to The Guardian, Jordan's concerns were triggered by a series of provocative incidents, most notably in July when over 2,000 Israeli religious activists, led by Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, entered the compound and conducted prayers and religious rituals. This direct violation of the status quo, which has been upheld for decades, has raised alarm in Amman.
Foreign Minister Safadi emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "This is a constant threat, a dangerous threat that we're trying to counter in every tool that we have possible." He further warned, "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."
Additionally, Jordan has expressed deep concern over reports of a special police unit being created for the Temple Mount, the Jewish name for the same site. Such a development, if confirmed, would mark a significant escalation in the Israeli presence and potentially alter the delicate balance at the holy site.
Diplomatic Offensive and Red Lines
In response, Jordan is mobilizing diplomatic support. Safadi confirmed that ministers from Arab League member states, along with Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan, will participate in the emergency meeting. The objective is to coordinate a unified response and draw international attention to what Jordan perceives as a dangerous escalation.
"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," Safadi said, underscoring the urgency of the diplomatic push.
Beyond the immediate crisis at Al Aqsa, Jordan also reaffirmed its staunch opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinians from the occupied West Bank. Safadi described such an attempt as a "red line" that Jordan would not allow to be crossed. "Our position that this is a red line that we will not allow to be crossed. We have made that known to everybody that we will do whatever it takes to prevent any attempt at Israeli displacement of Palestinians into Jordan," he asserted.
Historical Custodianship and Regional Stability
Jordan's Hashemite monarchy has served as the custodian of Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem for decades, a role reaffirmed in the 1994 peace treaty between Jordan and Israel. Amman maintains that preserving the current arrangement is essential to preventing further unrest in the region. Any deviation, Jordan argues, could have catastrophic consequences, not only for the Palestinian territories but for the entire Muslim world.
The emergency meeting represents a critical diplomatic effort to address these concerns. By bringing together key Islamic nations, Jordan aims to present a united front against what it sees as a systematic erosion of the status quo at one of Islam's holiest sites.
The international community now watches closely as tensions simmer. With the meeting set for Wednesday, the outcome could shape the trajectory of the conflict and the stability of the region. Jordan's warning serves as a stark reminder that the status of Jerusalem remains a flashpoint capable of igniting widespread religious and political turmoil.
