Jordan summons the Israeli ambassador after Ben Gvir's "assault" on the Esplanade of Mosques

MADRID, 3 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Government of Jordan has summoned the Israeli ambassador on Tuesday to personally express his discomfort at the "assault" of the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, on the Esplanade of the Mosques, a place as symbolic as it is thorny for interreligious coexistence in Jerusalem.

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry has confirmed the ambassador's summons on social networks, hours after criticizing Ben Gvir's visit as "an unacceptable violation" of the "historical and legal situation in Jerusalem and its holy places."

In the eyes of Jordan, which acts as custodian of the place, the Israeli government "bears full responsibility for the consequences" that may derive from the actions of the leader of Otzma Yehudit, according to a first statement from the Jordanian authorities.

In this way, they have pointed out that the visit "is a provocative step" that represents "a dangerous trend that the international community must stop immediately." In this line, the Government has recalled that it is Jordan who has the "legal authority" and the "exclusive jurisdiction" to "manage matters" in the Esplanade of the Mosques.

Jordan has called on Israel, "in its capacity as the occupying power", to "immediately end all violations" in Jerusalem, while requesting that it "respect" the Jordanian administration of the site. "It is necessary that he stop all measures aimed at changing the historical and legal situation and impose a special division," he has settled in his statement.

Israel took control of the Temple Mount and the rest of the Old City of Jerusalem during the Six Day War (1967). However, it allowed Jordan to continue to maintain religious authority at the site and, under the peace agreement, recognized Jordan's "special role" over "Muslim holy places in Jerusalem."

Israel considers Jerusalem its "indivisible" capital, although the status of the city is pending a peace agreement with the Palestinian authorities, who claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a state on the 1967 borders as part of a peace settlement. two states backed by the international community, which also calls for no changes to the 'status quo'.