Jordanians demonstrate in solidarity with Al-Aqsa Mosque

Thousands of Jordanians took to the streets on Friday and called for the government to cancel the peace agreement with Israel in response to the escalation of violence in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, Arabs48 website said. Demonstrators chanted “death to Israel” and called for the closure of the Israeli embassy in Amman.

For the first time since diplomatic relations between both sides were forged, Jordan recalled its ambassador to Tel-Aviv and denounced all violations against the sacred mosque compound.

Jordan blames Israel for the ongoing unrest in the holy city, saying that the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and the candid demands of extremist Jews to perform rituals in Al-Aqsa Mosque have ignited the anger of the Palestinians. Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation authorities accuse Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas of inciting violence in Jerusalem even though security services loyal to Abbas have arrested hundreds of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and carried out a violent crackdown on demonstrations. The PA is desperate to suppress any actions that might lead to a new intifada.

Jordan is worried that the escalation in occupied Palestine might spread as the majority of Jordanian citizens are descendants of Palestinians who were expelled from their homes during the Nakba in 1948, when the state of Israel was established.