Al-Aqsa Mosque: Jordan PM commends Palestinians resisting Israeli violations

The Jordanian prime minister commended on Monday Palestinian resistance to Israeli violations at occupied East Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

The mosque, which is the third-holiest site in Islam, has faced repeated Israeli security and settler assaults since Friday, leaving scores of Palestinians injured and prompting widespread condemnation.

Israeli forces have smashed mosque windows, fired tear gas and sound bombs and attacked worshippers with batons.

In parliament, Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh declared: "I salute every Palestinian, and all the employees of the Jordanian Islamic Waqf, who proudly stand like minarets, hurling their stones in a volley of clay at the Zionist sympathisers defiling the Al-Aqsa Mosque".

The premier added that this had happened "under the protection of the Israeli occupation government", according to The Times of Israel.

Jordan serves as custodian of Jerusalem's Muslim and Christian sacred places, with the Waqf administering Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Al-Khasawneh's remarks come after Jordan called in Israel's second-ranking diplomat in the kingdom to hand over a letter calling for an "immediate stop to violations" against the mosque, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.

Ayman Al-Safadi, the Jordanian foreign minister, announced that his country will hold an urgent Arab League meeting concerning the "Israeli escalation" on Thursday.

Israel's foreign ministry claimed Amman is "undermining efforts to establish peace in Jerusalem and giving impetus to those who violate the sanctity of the holidays".

Jordan is the custodian of several holy sites in Jerusalem, including Al-Aqsa Mosque, but it has little power to control entry into the site. 🕌https://t.co/I3goX4aGby

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) April 18, 2022

The ministry criticised "statements supporting violent actions, including the throwing of rocks" and urged "every responsible partner" not to "take part in spreading completely false information".

On Monday Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani insisted Israel must cease its attacks against Al-Aqsa while on the telephone with Jordanian King Abdullah II.

He noted Doha's support for Palestinians' religious rights, according to the official Qatar News Agency.