Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Jordan today denied holding talks with Israel concerning reopening Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for non-Muslims.

Official Jordanian sources have denied Israeli newspaper Haaretz’s report, published yesterday, which claimed that Israel and Jordan have been holding negotiations over the possibility of reopening Al-Aqsa Mosque and Temple Mount for non-Muslim visitors both Israeli and foreign.

The sources stressed that no such talks were taking place with Israel.

In its report, Haaretz alleged that these negotiations had been taking place for several months, and that procedures would be put in place by Israel to ensure that religion was not grounds for refusal of entry to the mosque compound.

Al-Aqsa Mosque has been closed to non-Muslims since the outbreak of the third Intifada in 2000, before which Jewish and Christian people were also allowed to enter freely.

On the other hand, Jordanian governmental sources commented on the decision made by the Israeli Ministry for Policy and Security Affairs to begin building a new security fence. The fence will reportedly run 30 kilometers from Eilat in the north to the Timna airport along the Israeli-Jordanian border.

The sources confirmed that the government in Amman does not foresee any obstacles or issues in Israel’s fence project as long as it does not infringe on Jordanian territory.

*PNN