New Israeli closure at Al-Aqsa escalates tensions
Israeli-Jordanian ties are likely to deteriorate following an Israeli court decision to close the Bab al-Rahma building inside Al-Aqsa Mosque and to try the Islamic Religious Endowments as a terrorist organization.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — In a closed meeting Sept. 14, the Jerusalem religious authorities, which consist of four Islamic institutions, warned that measures will be taken in protest against Israel, in case the latter does not retract its decision to close down the Bab al-Rahma building inside Al-Aqsa Mosque and to bring the Islamic Religious Endowments before the Israeli court, considering it to be a terrorist organization.
Ekrima Sabri, the head of the Supreme Islamic Council in Jerusalem, told Al-Monitor, “Israel is deliberately taking retaliatory measures against Jerusalemites and Islamic Religious Endowments. The Israeli court decision consists of an encroachment upon the religious endowments’ powers, given that it is not entitled to issue any decision that has anything to do with Al-Aqsa.”
