Jordanian king expresses steadfast support for protecting worship places in Jerusalem

King Abdullah II of Jordan has reaffirmed his responsibility in protecting Christian and Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, following a wake of recent attacks on worship places.

The monarch of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is the "protector" of the Islamic and Christian Holy Places in Jerusalem. And this historical responsibility will be done so with even more vigor and determination so that Christians and Muslims can continue to freely practice their religions in these places without being intimidated, said the Jordanian king.

King Abdullah was speaking during the April 25 official iftar breaking of the Ramadan fast at the Al-Husseiniya Royal Palace in Amman, for Muslim and Christian leaders from Jerusalem.

The iftar was attended, among others, by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilus III, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, and the Jordanian Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II.

In recent weeks, tensions and clashes around the Christian and Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem's Old City have escalated, particularly this year as the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the Christian Easter and Jewish Passover coincided. 

Clashes broke out between Palestinian Muslims and Israeli police forces on the esplanade of the mosques in Jerusalem last week.

The violence was in Temple Mount, known as Haram al-Sharif or referred to as the Al-Aqsa compound by Muslims -- Judaism’s holiest site and Islam’s third holiest. It was built by Umayyad ruler Abd AlMalik Ibn Marwan in the late seventh century.

Many Palestinians were injured on Friday in clashes with Israeli security forces at Al Aqsa Mosque compound. Also, Palestinian extremists killed 14 people in Israel and Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank killed about 20 Palestinians.

During the iftar, Muslim leaders briefed the king on violations that have been taking place during Ramadan in Al Aqsa Mosque.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem deplored restrictions imposed by Israel on the number of worshipers in and around the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on April 23, Holy Saturday, the day on which the traditional ceremony of the Holy Fire takes place at the beginning of the Easter Vigil, and April 24, the Orthodox Easter Sunday for the Churches that follow the Julian calendar.

The Jordan Times reported King Abdullah stressing the need for efforts to prevent a repeat of the violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites. 

According to the Jordanian media Archbishop Pizzaballa pointed out that the connection between the king and the royal family and Jerusalem is internationally recognized and appreciated. 

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem reportedly said that the king's voice is an important point of reference in view of the periodic flaring up of tensions around the holy places of Jerusalem.

The king stressed the historical and religious responsibility of safeguarding Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, under the Hashemite Custodianship, as well as protecting the rights of Muslim and Christian worshippers,” The Jordan Times reported.

It also reported that the king is working with all regional and international partners to end violations in Jerusalem and coordinating with other Arab political leaders to take action against any violations that endanger the coexistence of the different faith communities in the Holy City. 

Preserving Jerusalem's Arab, Islamic and Christian identity

King Abdallah had already said Israel must respect the “historic and legal status” of Al Aqsa and “stop all illegitimate and provocative measures that violate this status”.

He described protection of Jerusalem and its holy sites as “a Jordanian priority”, and said the city’s “Arab, Islamic and Christian identity” must be preserved.

On April 25, the Jordanian House of Representatives also voted to increase penalties for crimes against religious beliefs or sentiments, raising the minimum penalty for these offenses to four months in prison from the previous three months and a maximum fine of 500 Jordanian dinars from the previous 20 dinars. 

King Abdullah on Sunday visited Cairo and met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fatteh el-Sissi and United Arab Emirates Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

A statement from the Jordanian Royal Court said that the three leaders discussed the ongoing tensions regarding Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, with the three “stressing their countries’ readiness to exert all efforts to restore calm in Jerusalem, end all forms of escalation, and remove obstacles impeding worshippers’ access.”

During that meeting, King Abdullah called on Israel to maintain the religious status quo on the Temple Mount and “emphasized the importance of respecting the Hashemite Custodianship” of holy sites in Jerusalem and “stressed the need to respect the historical and legal status quo”.  

The status quo of Jerusalem’s holy sites and the recent clashes during religious holidays was also discussed at the UN Security Council.

Giving updates to the 15-member organ, Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said that, despite his hope that this month and its holy days would be a peaceful and celebratory time, the period has been marked by violence. 

All sides must do their part to reduce tensions, uphold the status quo at the holy sites, and ensure their sanctity is respected by all, he said.

“At this sensitive and volatile moment, Israeli and Palestinian leaders have made some commendable efforts to ease tensions, condemn attacks and rein in violence,” Wennesland said.