AMMAN — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday said that he never heard of any media reports alleging that the United States is working with Israel to end the Hashemite custodianship over Al Aqsa Mosque.

 

Speaking in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio said he was unaware of such reports and had never heard of the matter before.

 

Asked to confirm the media reports, which claimed that the US is working with Israel to take away Jordan’s custodianship over Al Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, Rubio said, “I am not even aware of these reports. I’ve never heard of that.”

 

The US top diplomat underlined the solid Washington-Amman relations, saying, “We have a great relationship with Jordan.”

 

With unmistakable skepticism, Rubio also cast doubt on the credibility of the news report, saying, “I have never heard of such report. Is that a credible website?”

 

Rubio affirmed that the Jordanian custodianship over Al Aqsa Mosque had never been a matter in dispute, saying, “I’ve never heard that discussed by anybody.”

 

The Middle East Eye reported that the US and Israel are allegedly collaborating on a plan to strip Jordan of its historic Hashemite custodianship over Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque.

 

The UK-based media website claimed that Washington and Tel Aviv are "actively working" to strip Jordan of its historic custodianship of Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque Compound/ Al Haram Al Sharif.

 

Quoting multiple unnamed sources, the news website claimed that the US and Israel are pursuing a new arrangement that would see the management of Islam’s third holiest site closely align with Israeli interests.

 

Jordan's Hashemite custodianship over Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem has long been recognised under bilateral agreements and remains a central element of the Kingdom's role in the holy city.