(PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)
For the first time since the recent Har Habayis violence, King Abdullah of Jordan is meeting with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) in Ramallah. According to Jordanian media reports, the king will be meeting with Abu Mazen on Monday to discuss matters pertaining to Jerusalem and al-Aqsa.
Members of Abu Mazen’s Fatah Central Committee signal the meeting is a most significant one as they will discuss coordination between the various involved parties in light of current political challenges.
Jordan views itself as responsible for Har Habayis and the Waqf Authority, and while Israel and the Hashemite kingdom maintain good relations, those relations were and remain strained surrounding the recent Har Habayis events. Jordan was among Israel’s most audible critics after PM Netanyahu decided to place metal detectors for visitors to the site. They all since been removed to the exclusion of the metal detectors used to check Jews visiting the site.
Gedolei Yisrael over the generations and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel prohibit visiting Har Habayis, which they explain carries the punishment of kares.
In the accompanying photos, we see King Abdullah arriving in Ramallah and receiving an official diplomatic welcome.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: בית המלוכה הירדני via Media Resource Group)
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One Response
King Abdullah of Jordan acts like he is big man on campus. He thinks he can straddle the line between Israel’s enemies and the benefits Israel has to offer. True to what he is, he is no friend to the Jews. Let us not forget that when he will be in big trouble.