Jordan denounces Israel’s ‘provocative’ measures in Jerusalem

The Foreign Ministry on Tuesday denounced Israel’s “provocative” measures in the Old City of Jerusalem, especially at Al Haram Al Sharif, calling on Israel to halt its unilateral measures and abide by international laws. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Sabah Al Rafie was quoted in a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, as saying that Israel’s “confrontational” measures, including the continuing excavations in and around the Old City and its walls, provoke Muslims especially during Ramadan. Rafie also cited the Israeli security forces’ entrance to the Dome of the Rock and allowing the entry of right-wing extremists into Al Aqsa Mosque. She emphasised the Hashemites’ role as custodians of the holy sites in Jerusalem and their responsibility to protect its Islamic and Christian holy sites as listed in the 1994 Wadi Araba Peace Treaty. On statements made by US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Jerusalem during his recent visit to Israel, Rafie noted that the Jordanian government is following up on the issue, reiterating Jordan’s constant stance which sees East Jerusalem as an integral part of the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel in 1967. During his visit to Israel, Romney said the country’s economic success compared with its Palestinian neighbours was due to “cultural” differences and the “hand of providence”, and declared Jerusalem to be “the capital of Israel”. Rafie also noted that consecutive US governments have shown commitment to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders according to the two-state solution. She added that the US administration’s constant stance towards the Palestinian question has long placed Jerusalem at the core of the final status issues  to be negotiated when the two parties reach that stage in their discussions, according to Petra. From jordantimes