Jordan blasts allowing ultranationalist Jews to enter Muslim shrine

Amman - The Jordanian government Thursday strongly condemned as a "violation" of international law Israel's allowing 70 ultranationalist Jews to enter the yard of al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, which Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 Six-Day War.

"The Jordanian government strongly condemns the Israeli police's permission of 70 ultranationalist Jews to enter the Islamic shrine under their protection, and consider it a provocation for Muslim feelings," Minister of State for Information Affairs and Communication Nasser Judeh said.

"Jordan considers Israel, as an occupation power, directly responsible for such violations of international law and their dangerous repercussions."

Judeh urged the world community and parties concerned with the peace process to "move promptly to force Israel to stop these violations and provocations, which could negatively affect the ongoing peace negotiations" between Israel and the Palestinians.

Under the peace treaty that the two countries concluded in 1994, Israel recognized Jordan's right to look after all Muslim and Christian holy places in East Jerusalem. (dpa)

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