Jordanians protest Israeli measures in East Jerusalem

Oct 9, 2009, 13:40 GMT

Amman - Thousands in the Jordanian cities of Amman and Zarqa on Friday demonstrated against Israel's measures at al-Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem, which the Jewish state captured from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East war.

The compound in Jerusalem's walled Old City that houses the mosque is holy to both Muslims and Jews. It has been the scene of mounting tension between the communities.

In Amman, demonstrators made their way to the Prime Ministry, where they chanted slogans urging the government to sever diplomatic ties with Israel and expel its ambassador.

They also called for the abrogation of the peace treaty which Jordan concluded with Israel in 1994. Under the pact, Israel acknowledged Amman's right to look after all Islamic and Christian holy places in East Jerusalem.

The demonstrations were called by opposition parties and trade unions. Anger is mounting in Jordan over the breaking into al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli troops at least twice over the past two weeks.

Thousands of police were deployed in the Old City and elsewhere in East Jerusalem Friday.

Jordan's King Abdullah II demanded that Israel stop all unilateral actions in East Jerusalem, in an interview with Israel's Ha'aretz newspaper. He warned that such steps jeopardise Israel's relations with Jordan and are likely to inflame the Islamic world and derail peace efforts.