Jordan Asks UN to Outlaw Jewish Prayer on Temple Mount

Lea Speyer : Oct 22, 2014
Breaking Israel News

Jordan views itself as the sole custodian of holy sites in East Jerusalem.

(Israel)—Jordanian officials, led by King Abdullah II, are seeking to ban Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount, a Jordanian official announced Tuesday. (Photo via Breaking Israel News)

Khalid al-Shawabka, Jordan's Ambassador to the Palestinian territories, said that the Jordanian government is seeking to block a bill that is being voted on for ratification in the Knesset that would allow Jews to pray on the Temple Mount.

Al-Shawabka said that the resolution would divide the Temple Mount compound between Jews and Muslims.

"Jordan's foreign minister has sent strongly-worded messages to foreign ministers of member states of the UN Security Council and to the UN demanding an end to the systematic assaults on the Al-Aqsa Mosque and on worshipers," he told Palestinian Ma'an News Agency.

Al-Shawabka said that "the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem are red lines," using the Muslim name for the Temple Mount compound. He said that the Israeli governments push for expanded prayer on the Mount is "unacceptable."

Jews, Christians and all non-Muslims are forbidden from praying or conducting any religious rituals on the Temple Mount. The site is considered the holiest place in all of Judaism and the third holiest in Islam. It is currently controlled by the Muslim Waqf.