Jordan Times
Monday, April 11, 2005
Monarch warns extremists could
wreck peace
AMMAN (JT) — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday warned against attempts by
Jewish extremists to enter Al Haram Al Sharif.
“Any aggression on Muslims' first qiblah and any tampering with this sacred Arab
and Muslim site will destroy security and stability in the region,” King
Abdullah told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, as Israeli police reportedly
prevented right-wing Jewish extremists from staging a rally at the holy site
after thousands of Muslims massed to defend it.
Al Haram Al Sharif is one of the three holiest sites of Islam, along with the
Kaaba in Mecca and the Prophet Mohammad Mosque in Medina. It was the first
qiblah of Islam, until the Koranic revelation after the Hijra, by which the
qiblah was transferred to the Kaaba.
The King called on the Israeli government to prevent the Jewish extremists from
approaching Al Aqsa Mosque, which is under the custodianship of Jordan.
The two major buildings within the Haram are the Dome of the Rock in the centre
and Al Aqsa Mosque.
Stressing that Jordan will continue contacts with the Israeli government to
avoid any such incident, King Abdullah noted that the peace treaty with Israel
stipulated that Jewish state respect the Kingdom's special role in protecting
and preserving the holy places in Jerusalem.
King Abdullah underlined the importance of the world community's stand on this
issue, saying that the consequences of provocative actions could lead to the
destruction of the entire peace process.
The Foreign Ministry said yesterday that it was in contact with all concerned
parties to prevent any tampering with the holy site.
Meanwhile, students on Sunday staged a protest on the campus of the University
of Jordan over the attempts by the Jewish extremists to enter the compound.