Jordan Calls Emergency Arab Foreign Ministers Meeting Over Israeli Actions at Al-Aqsa Compound

Jordan announced it will convene an emergency meeting of Arab and Islamic world foreign ministers on Wednesday in response to what it calls an "imminent threat" of Israeli takeover of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock compound in Jerusalem. The Jordanian government warned that such developments could ignite a broad religious conflict. This decision follows a series of visits by right-wing Jewish activists to the site, which Jordan claims are government-backed violations of the longstanding status quo that only allows Muslims to pray there under Jordanian custodianship.

According to a report by The Guardian, on July 23, over 2,000 right-wing religious activists, mostly settlers, entered the compound led by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Jordanian sources described the event as the most severe breach of the status quo in modern times, with participants conducting prayers and ceremonies throughout the site. Jordan also expressed concern over recent recruitment of religious Jews into a special police unit assigned to the compound.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told The Guardian, "This is a continuous and dangerous threat that we are trying to stop by all means available." He warned that harming the status quo could spark a religious conflict extending beyond Palestine and Jordan to the entire Muslim world. Safadi will host the emergency meeting with foreign ministers from the Arab League, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan. He stressed the international community must recognize Jerusalem as a "powder keg" and highlighted Jordan's legal and diplomatic efforts to raise awareness about the immediate threat posed by ongoing Israeli actions.