Jordan appeals to end Al Aqsa Mosque restrictions

Jordan's Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh Saturday called for international efforts to end Israeli violations against Al Aqsa mosque, media reported.

At a meeting with diplomats and ambassadors of member states of the UN Security Council, Judeh called for intensified efforts to end the Israeli unilateral measures and violations against Al Aqsa mosque and worshippers at the mosque, adding that Jordan will take all measures to end the Israeli provocative violations, Xinhua reported citing the state-run Petra news agency.

Judeh accused the Israeli soldiers of preventing Muslims worshippers from entering the mosque as well as employees and allowing radical Israelis to break into the mosque.

Jordan oversees the holy site in east Jerusalem, which is envisaged as the future capital of the Palestinian state.

Al Aqsa Mosque compound, known to Muslims as the "Noble Sanctuary" and to Jews as the "Temple Mount" has long been a cause for high-tensions since Israel captured it from Jordan after the 1967 war.

Since then the area is run by the Muslim Waqf in Jordan and guarded by Israeli security forces, which causes frequent friction between Muslim visitors and Israeli police.