REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, AMMAN -- Jordan on Thursday condemned what it called the repeated Israeli violations in Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, the state-run Petra news agency reported.
Minister of State for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani said such violations, including recent storming into the yards of the Mosque by Jewish settlers, increased the regional tension.
"Jordan rejects and condemns such provocative and irresponsible acts by the Israeli authorities. These acts provoked the feelings of Muslims everywhere and violated all international laws and norms that call for respect for the holy sites," said Momani.
Jordan, who signed a peace deal with Israel in 1994, oversees the holy Islamic and Christian sites in East Jerusalem which is envisaged by the Palestinians as their future capital.
Momani added that such Israeli measures were undermining international efforts to resume peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
The minister called on the Israeli government to cease such violations and provocations immediately and to respect Jordan's role in the protection of the holy sites in Jerusalem.