Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Jordanian politicians and lawmakers on Monday called for a unified stand by the Arab world to defend Al Aqsa Mosque amidst increasing violations against the holy site by radical Jewish groups, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

At a meeting called "The Road to Jerusalem," Jordan's Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Hayel Daoud stressed the need for Arab and Islamic efforts to protect Al Aqsa Mosque.

The site is highly regarded in both Islam and Judaism. Several clashes erupted over the past few weeks between Palestinians and Israeli army and police as Jewish settlers broke into the yards of the mosque. Controversies over the Al Aqsa compound sparked violent clashes over the past as well.

"Defending the mosque is a responsibility of all Arabs and Muslims", said the minister at the conference. Though located in Jerusalem, Jordan oversees Al Aqsa Mosque as well as Islamic and Christian sites in East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as the capital of their future state.

Jordanian Lawmaker Yahia Al Saud said the so-called Arab Spring and developments witnessed across the Arab world have overshadowed the Palestinian issue, which enabled Israel to increase its violations against the defenseless Palestinians and the holy sites in Jerusalem.

*Xinhua