America and Israel are working together on a plan to end Jordan’s custodian role from Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque. This claim has been made in a report by Middle East Eye (MEE). According to the report, under the plan, the existing arrangement of the mosque can be changed and a new arrangement can be made, which will be closer to the interests of Israel. The report quoted officials from American, Jordanian, Palestinian, Western and Gulf countries as saying that this plan is being carried forward by US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
According to sources, the role of Jordan-backed Islamic Waqf can be abolished in this new plan. In its place, a new organization will be formed with the cooperation of the Israeli government, which will present Al-Aqsa Mosque as a multi-faith center, i.e. a common religious place of many religions. Under the plan, Jews could be given equal rights in the Al-Aqsa complex. Jewish prayer in large groups may also be officially permitted.
Can Israel get these rights?
The report also says that Israel may get interference in the appointment of mosque imams, religious preachers and other senior officials. Even the content of Friday khutbahs i.e. religious speeches may require Israel’s approval.
Two American officials told Middle East Eye that America has prepared a document regarding the future of Al-Aqsa Mosque. It calls for reducing the Muslim identity of the mosque and turning it into a common tourist destination for Muslims, Christians and Jews.
Who will monitor the mosque premises?
A Western official and a source associated with the Jordanian government said that the proposal also includes giving the monitoring of the mosque complex to countries like Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a rotational basis. These countries have also been informed about the American plan.
However, according to the report, Saudi Arabia is against this proposal. Sources in the Gulf countries say that Saudi Arabia believes that Jordan’s protector role is necessary for peace and stability in the region. According to sources, if Jordan’s role weakens, tension may increase in the entire region. Saudi and Jordan have good relations.
What is the situation at present?
Al-Aqsa Mosque has been considered the only Muslim religious site for decades. After the 1967 war, there was an agreement between Jordan and Israel regarding this. It was decided that the internal affairs of the mosque would be handled by the Islamic Waqf, while the external security would be with Israel. Non-Muslim people can go there at scheduled times, but they are not allowed to pray. To Jews, this place is known as the Temple Mount; many people believe that there were once two ancient Jewish temples here, which were destroyed by the Babylonians and Romans.
What is Jordan’s role in Jerusalem?
Jordan’s Hashemite royal family has been the guardian of Jerusalem’s Muslim and Christian religious sites since 1924. This role was also recognized in the Jordan-Israel Peace Treaty of 1994. But Jordanian and Palestinian officials allege that Israel is continuously weakening this system. Israeli police also conduct raids in the mosque premises. Waqf officials say that apart from imposing restrictions on Palestinian worshippers, Israel has also created difficulties in the repair and maintenance of the mosque.
After the report was published, an American official rejected these claims. He said that the White House is not trying to take away the guardianship role of Al-Aqsa from Jordan and this report is completely false. Nothing has been said about Christian religious places in this plan.
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