Jordan on Monday condemned Israel for allowing radical Jews to visit Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque compound saying such action could spark a “religious war”.

Jordan is the custodian of the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem and has repeatedly denounced “violations” of rules at Islam’s third holiest site.

Jews, who consider the compound their holiest site and call it Temple Mount, are allowed to visit but not to pray on the esplanade in order to avoid tensions with Muslims who worship there.

On Sunday, around 400 Jews entered the compound to commemorate the destruction of two ancient temples but several who tried to pray there were expelled by Israeli police while two were detained.

Jordan’s Minister of Islamic Affairs and Awqaf (religious property) Wael Arabiyat denounced Israel for allowing “Zionist extremists” to enter and pray at the compound.

“Pursuing such measures could spark a religious war in the region,” Arabiyat warned, saying that granting permission to radical Jews to enter and pray at Al-Aqsa was an act of “tyranny”.

Arabiyat also denounced Israeli police for “arresting and beating” Muslim worshippers at the site.

Israeli police on Sunday said Muslims had gathered around two Jews who were being expelled from the compound and began yelling at them.

Police pushed them away and three Muslims were light ly injured in the scuffle.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II also denounced “repeated violations and transgressions by Israel and extremist groups and their blatant attempts to change the status quo in Jerusalem,” in an interview published Monday by the semi-official Addustour newspaper.

“We will persist in undertaking our religious and historical responsibilities towards Al-Aqsa mosque…. which faces repeated violations by extremist groups,” he said.

“As the Custodian of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, I will continue my efforts to protect these places and stand up against all violations of their sanctity,” he said.

Jews on Sunday were commemorating the religious day of mourning known as Tisha B’av.

Source: al-monitor.com