AMMAN
Jordan said on Sunday that an Israeli siege of Al-Aqsa mosque, particularly during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, would incite "hatred" and "violence".
"The Israeli army uses force with the guards of the mosque in order to make it easy for extremists to break into it," Jordanian Information Minister Mohamed Momani told Anadolu Agency.
"These extremists only want to defile the prayer house and provoke Muslims' feelings," he added.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East War. It later annexed the holy city in 1980, claiming Jerusalem as the unified capital of the self-proclaimed Jewish state.
Sacred to both Muslims and Jews, Jerusalem is home to the iconic Al-Aqsa Mosque, which for Muslims represents the world's third holiest site.
Jews refer to the area as the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two prominent Jewish temples in ancient times.
The Jordanian minister denounced what he described as restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities on the entry of Palestinians to Al-Aqsa mosque.
He said these authorities at the same time facilitate attacks on the mosque by Israeli extremists.
"Jordan has always warned against mosque attacks," Momani said.
"They will usher in a fertile soil for violence in the region," he added.
He called on the international community to carry out its duty of protecting Islamic and Christian holy sites in the Palestinian territories against what he called "Israeli violations".
By Saddam al-Yahiya
www.aa.com.tr/en
