AMMAN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Jordan on Wednesday condemned the continued closure of the gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli authorities for the 11th consecutive day, which prevented worshippers from entering the holy site during Ramadan.
In a statement, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry called the move a "flagrant violation" of international law that undermines the historical and legal status of the compound and breaches the principle of free access to places of worship.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Fouad Majali urged Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately reopen the mosque and stop obstructing worshippers. He also called on the international community to take a clear and firm stance to compel Israel to end "unlawful practices" targeting Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, Israeli authorities have officially ordered full closures of the mosque on Fridays only five times since Israel occupied East Jerusalem in 1967, with the most recent closure reported on March 7.
King Abdullah II of Jordan on Monday warned that Israel could exploit the regional crisis to intensify attacks on Gaza and the West Bank during Ramadan, according to a statement from the Royal Hashemite Court. ■
