AMMAN — Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Mohammad Khalayleh on Wednesday warned that Al Aqsa Mosque is being subjected to “unprecedented and extremely serious” violations coinciding with Jewish holidays.

 

Speaking to Al Mamlaka, Khalayleh said the situation at Al Aqsa Mosque and in Jerusalem represents a systematic attempt to impose a new and dangerous reality inside the mosque’s courtyards.

 

He said that the violations have reached serious levels, led by senior Israeli officials and rabbis who are conducting successive mass incursions into the mosque’s courtyards.

 

Khalayleh said that the incursions are being carried out under religious and political cover in an attempt to Judaise Al Aqsa Mosque, alongside imposing a tight siege on the site, restricting worshippers and those maintaining a presence there, preventing them from entering the mosque and facilitating settler incursions.

 

He stressed that Al Aqsa Mosque is an exclusively Islamic right, as affirmed by His Majesty King Abdullah, and that its courtyards, domes and prayer platforms are the exclusive right of Muslims and cannot be subject to temporal or spatial division. He added that the mosque is under Hashemite custodianship.

 

Khalayleh warned that the violations and any infringement on the Hashemite custodianship could have “catastrophic” consequences for the entire region.

 

He said that the Ministry of Awqaf oversees Al Aqsa Mosque as part of the Hashemite custodianship over the mosque and the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

 

Khalayleh also said Al Aqsa Mosque covers 144 dunums and that everything within its walls is the exclusive right of Muslims.

 

Regarding attempts to bring sacrificial offerings into the mosque, Khalayleh said far-right groups in Israel had “crossed all boundaries” in practising Talmudic rituals and ceremonies inside Al Aqsa Mosque compound.

 

He said such practices are unprecedented and take place under direct protection from Israeli forces, describing them as “blatant aggression” and a new assault on Jerusalem and Islamic holy sites.

 

Khalayleh also stressed that Jordan has repeatedly warned against any infringement on Al Aqsa Mosque and Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem.

 

He called on Muslims around the world to stand together in defence of Al Aqsa Mosque and take action to deter further attacks against it.

 

Khalayleh said that defending Al Aqsa Mosque is a matter of Muslim faith and that Jordan, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah, stands at the forefront of efforts to defend the mosque and Jerusalem at international forums.

 

He referred to the King’s address to the United Nations General Assembly and his remarks on Jerusalem and the Palestinian cause, calling on the Islamic world to support Jordan’s efforts to preserve Jerusalem and confront Israeli attacks.

 

Regarding the situation of Jerusalem Awqaf employees, Khalayleh said Israeli violations have also included attacks on Ministry of Awqaf staff.

 

He said that some employees have been arrested, some mosque guards prevented from reaching their workplaces and others removed, while Al Aqsa employees have faced harassment and restrictions preventing them from carrying out their duties.

 

Some of these measures are aimed at facilitating the entry of extremist Jews and other groups making incursions into Al Aqsa Mosque, he said, adding that they take place under the official protection of the occupying forces in Jerusalem.

 

Khalayleh also stressed the importance of the role of Muslim scholars in raising awareness about developments in Jerusalem, saying the Arab and Islamic world’s preoccupation with internal issues should not lead to the neglect of the Al Aqsa Mosque issue.