Ambassador Alan Baker and Lenny Ben-David
JNS, Apr. 27, 2023
“… despite this awareness and the open and collegial diplomatic relationship Amman enjoys with Israel, the Jordanian leadership allowed itself to join the fanatical Islamic bandwagon and be drawn into echoing the false propaganda and hostility towards Israel, in clear violation of its obligations under the peace treaty with Israel.”
With the blessings of the Iranian leadership, radical Palestinians recently used the presence of thousands of worshippers at the Al-Aqsa mosque on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount to incite violence by repeatedly broadcasting the false accusation that Israel intends to destroy the mosque. This, in turn, led to waves of violence and terror against Israelis and Jews throughout the area, requiring Israel’s police to act to restore order.
Jordan’s irresponsible official statements
No less regrettable is the reaction by the Jordanian leadership, which, despite being fully aware of the nonexistence of any basis for such incitement and the fact that groups of fanatics armed with clubs, fireworks and rocks initiated the violence within the mosque, chose to join the choir of political elements condemning Israel.
Jordanian statements included Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi alleging unprovoked aggression against peaceful Palestinian worshippers, adding, “Israel is pushing us into the abyss of violence and undermines the peace treaty with Jordan.”
In a similar statement, Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sinan al-Majali threatened:
“Should the Israeli police assault worshippers again, in an attempt to empty [the mosque] of worshippers, in preparation for major incursions into the mosque,” it would “push the situation towards more tension and violence, for which everyone will pay the price.
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