Jordan summons Israeli envoy over al-Aqsa

Jordan's foreign ministry has summoned the Israeli envoy to Amman to protest violation of the al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli soldiers.

The Jordanian foreign ministry handed a strongly-worded protest to the Israeli charge d'affaires on Sunday, condemning the breaking into Jerusalem's (Al-Quds) al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli soldiers, the official Petra news agency reported.

"The Israeli envoy was asked to convey to his government Jordan's strong protest over the breaking into al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli troops as well as its astonishment over this flagrant aggression," Petra said.

"Jordan also demanded an immediate halt to such provocative Israeli actions that threaten security in the region and derail peace efforts," it added.

Earlier Sunday, clashes erupted between Palestinians in eastern Al-Quds and the Israeli police as a group of Jewish extremists broke into the compound of al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest shrine in Islam. About 16 Palestinians were injured in the clashes.

The Jordanian Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communication, Nabil Sharif, said that his government "rejects any attempt by Israeli soldiers to violate the sanctity of the Islamic shrine, which is guaranteed by international law and conventions."

"We are surprised over this incitement of violence which takes place as international efforts focus on the resumption of negotiations for finding a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict."

He vowed that his government would "do its utmost through all means to ensure the protection of holy places in al-Aqsa."

Under a peace treaty which Jordan and Israel signed in 1994, Amman has the right to look after both Islamic and Christian shrines in Al-Quds, which the UN still deems occupied territory.