The Palestinian Authority (PA) and Jordan described Israel's arrest of religious officials in Jerusalem and their expulsion from the al-Aqsa Mosque, including Chairman of Awqaf Council in Jerusalem Sheikh Abdel-Azeem Salhab as “an unacceptable, dangerous escalation.”
In a rare statement Sunday, Jordan's Minister of Waqf and Islamic Affairs, Abdul-Nasser Abu al-Basal, condemned the detention of Salhab and Deputy Director of Awqaf in Jerusalem Sheikh Najeh Bkerat, warning of the consequences as “undermining Jordan’s role as custodian of the Muslim holy places in Jerusalem.”
Israel detained the officials during a night raid on their homes in occupied East Jerusalem.
Both Salhab and Bkerat had a leading role in the reopening of the gate to Bab al-Rahma area inside the Mosque compound, where thousands of Palestinians performed the Friday Muslim prayer for the first time in 16 years.
They were later released after Jordanian diplomats contacted their Israeli counterparts and other international parties. But both are banned from entering the site for a week.
Under signed agreements, Jordan is in charge of the holy places in Jerusalem, and Awqaf staff working in al-Aqsa are employees of the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs.
Salhab's arrest is extremely unusual given that he is the most senior Jordanian figure in the Palestinian territories.
The decision against Salhab exacerbated tension between Israel and Jordan, an old one that led Jordan to expand the Waqf Council. The new members included PA officials Hatem Abdel Kader, PA’s governor in Jerusalem, Adnan al-Husayn, and religious leaders Akrama Sabri, Mufti of Jerusalem Muhammad Hussein, as well as the president of al-Quds University in East Jerusalem, Imad Abu Kishk.
The move angered Israel, which saw it as a boost to Palestinian power in the city.
Eighteen months ago, Palestinians succeeded in removing electronic gates set up by Israel before al-Aqsa, and last week, they opened al-Rahma gate in an area that had been closed since 2003.
Palestinians say they will not leave the mosque, which is considered a full Islamic Waqf, and Israel responded with arrests and expulsion orders.
Palestinian and Jordanian officials accuse Israel of working to change the status quo in al-Aqsa Mosque. Israel claims that Waqf tampered with the status quo and exceeded its powers.
Palestinian Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs Yousef Edais commented that Israel’s campaign of arrests is an expression of the failure and crisis the occupation is experiencing after the important success achieved by the masses of Jerusalem and endowments in their unity in opening Bab al-Rahma.
Edais added that the arrests of officials and other Palestinians mean the occupation intends to increase its violations, which could threaten the sovereignty of Aqsa and its vicinity.
The Minister warned that the right-wing occupation government’s increased violations and incursions could lead to a religious war that threatens the entire region.
He called on the Palestinians to go back to Aqsa Mosque to support Jerusalemites face the occupation and injustice they are subject to.
