Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Jordan affirmed on Monday that it will take prompt action against any Israeli escalation against the holy place in occupied Jerusalem, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammed Al Momani said.

Momani, who is also the government spokesman, affirmed that the "Jordan will take the needed political and legal measures to end the seizure against Al Aqsa Mosque and push Israel to commit to the peace agreement." The alternative, Momani warned, "will be more extremism and seditions that could trigger a religious war in the region." Further, the minister condemned the ongoing Israeli aggressions against Arab Jeruselmites and the Al Aqsa Mosque. "These aggressions constitute a flagrant violation against Jordan and a breach of heavenly religions and international norms," the minister affirmed.

The spokesman deplored the Israeli occupation forces' attacks against worshippers, mostly elderly people, at the Al Aqsa Mosque, and their action of arresting some of them. Momani also denounced the storming of the Al Aqsa Mosque's yards earlier today and use of force to vacate the mosque of the worshippers to allow settlers to break into the holy place.

The minister, meanwhile, condemned the Israeli forces' use of stun grenades and tearbombs against worshippers as well as they action of smashing the windows of the mosque in order to ensure that the shrine is vacated.

The Israeli occupation forces closed the gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem in the early hours of Monday and prevented Palestinians from entering or praying in the holy shrine, according to Palestinian sources.

The sources added that the Israeli Police allowed Jewish settlers to enter the courtyards of the mosque, accompanied by Deputy Speaker of the Israeli Knesset Moshe Feiglin. They forced their way into the mosque under the protection of the police, triggering violent clashes with the worshippers.

*Petra