JORDAN, May 13, 2018 (WAFA) - Jordan Sunday denounced in the strongest terms the ongoing Israeli violations and provocations against Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem.

Israeli fanatics early Sunday morning broke into the mosque’s compound in occupied Jerusalem‘s Old City in large numbers under Israeli police protection, and raised Israeli flags, provoking clashes with Muslim worshippers and the Islamic Waqf guards there.

Jordanian State Minister for Media Affairs and official government spokesman Mohammed Momani said the Jordanian embassy in Tel Aviv had lodged a protest with the Israeli foreign ministry, expressing the Kingdom‘s strong condemnation of "such irresponsible behavior" and demanding an immediate halt to these actions.

Petra news agency reported on the minister stating that such rejected practices, which are perpetrated by extremist groups under the protection of Israeli police, violate the sanctity of the holy place and incensed worshipers and Muslims throughout the world, 

He said the raids into the holy compound are also in breach of Israel‘s obligations as the occupying power in East Jerusalem under international law and the international humanitarian law, and run against all international norms and conventions that emphasize the respect of the places of worship of all religions.

Momani stressed that maintaining calm at the Haram Al Sharif comes through the respect for the existing historical and legal status and the management of the holy shrine by the Jerusalem Waqf religious authority.

The minister held the Israeli government fully responsible for the safety of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the violations by extremist groups and settlers.

He called for the immediate cessation of such provocations, preservation of the historical status quo in the holy shrine and respect for Jordan‘s role as custodian of the holy sites in East Jerusalem, which was recognized by the peace treaty between the two countries.

T.R.