The Jordanian ministry of foreign affairs has condemned recent remarks made by Israeli religious affairs minister Matan Kahana about the Aqsa Mosque as “provocative and unjustified.”
“Such remarks are unacceptable and reprehensible and we see them as a serious violation of the historical and legal status quo at the Aqsa Mosque” spokesman for the ministry Haitham Abul-Ful said in a press release.
Spokesman Abu-Ful warned that such Israeli remarks would fuel the conflict and feed extremism.
“The Aqsa Mosque with its entire 144 dunums of land belongs exclusively to the Muslim nation” Abul-Ful underlined.
“Jordan’s Jerusalem Awqaf and Aqsa Mosque Affairs Administration has exclusive jurisdiction over the management of the Aqsa Mosque and the regulation of entry to the site” he added.
Last Monday evening Kahana lit a candle at an entrance to the Aqsa Mosque and told crowds of settlers that he was standing at the oldest site for the people of Israel. He also expressed hope to see the temple being built during his life.
