Jordan on Tuesday strongly protested Israeli restrictions barring Muslim worshippers from access to Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Arab East Jerusalem and warned that such violations would escalate tensions in the occupied city. Jordan's ambassador in Tel Aviv Walid Obeidat lodged a protest with Israel's foreign ministry, voicing Jordan's strong condemnation of Israeli action of denying entry to worshippers and confiscation of their identity cards, closure of the holy complex's gates and the heavy security presence inside the compound, Islam's third holiest shrine, Jordan News Agency (Petra) reported. Here in Amman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Affairs Spokesperson Sabah Rafei said the Jordanian government held Israel, as the occupying power, responsible for stopping such provocative measures. She said Jordan vehemently opposed the storming of the mosque and violation of its sanctity by hundreds of extremist Jews, and warned that such practices would exacerbate tension inside and in the vicinity of the holy compound. Rafei also emphasized Jordan's role to stand against such breaches.
