[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: The rock throwing Arabs who started the
"provocation" are only hinted about in these items ("Palestinians who staged
an overnight sat-in inside Al Aqsa...").]

Jordan condemns raid on holy Jerusalem site as provocation
[28/02/2010 20:29]
http://petra.gov.jo/Artical.aspx?Lng=1&Section=1&Artical=173109

Amman, Feb.28(Petra- Jordan news agency)-- Jordan condemned as a provocation
Israeli forces who stormed Al Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem on Sunday
and said such actions would undermine efforts to restart the
Palestinian-Israeli peace process.

Israeli police opened the Bab Al Maghareba Gate early today for the entry of
zionist extremists to the holy compound touching off a confrontation with
Muslim worshippers.

About 20 protesters were wounded by soldiers who used tear gas and rubber
bullets.

"Jordan rejects any attempt by Israeli occupation forces to harm holy sites
in the Palestinian territories," State Minister for Media Affairs and
Communication Nabil Sharif told Petra.

"Storming Al Aqsa is an affront to the will of the international community
and such action will impede efforts to kickstart the peace process to
achieve stability in the region and set up an independent, sovereign and
viable Palestinian state," Sharif added.

The minister said that repeated Israeli assaults on the compound in the old
city of Jerusalem were designed to provoke millions of Arabs and Muslims.

Condemnation of the latest attack on worshippers also came from a number of
officials and academics, who said it was a further evidence that Israel is
in violations of international laws and conventions.

They called on Arab and Islamic countries to shoulder their responsibility
in defending Islamic holy places in Jerusalem and the occupied territories.

"This arbitrary Israeli measure is a stark evidence that Israeli occupation
authorities, headed by the right-wing government, continue such measures in
total disregard of religious norms, international law, the Fourth Geneva
Convention and U.N Security Council resolutions," said Abdullah Kanan,
Secretary General of the Royal Jordanian committee for Jerusalem Affairs.

//Petra//SD, S.
====
Jordanian diplomacy succeeds in getting Israeli police out of Al Aqsa
compound

[28/02/2010 22:24]

http://petra.gov.jo/Artical.aspx?Lng=1&Section=1&Artical=173129

Amman, Feb.

28(Petra)-- Upon directives from His Majesty King Abdullah II, the Jordanian
diplomacy moved effectively and rapidly on Sunday to get Israeli police out
of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said Sunday.

''King Abdullah instructed us to move at all levels to protest Israel's
unilateral measure and to totally reject Israeli police thrust into the holy
site," Judeh added in a statement to Petra.

"We interfered through our embassy in Tel Aviv and contacted all the
concerned parties in Israel", he added noting that these diplomatic efforts
have led to getting Israeli police personnel out of Al Aqsa compound and all
the gates leading to Al Aqsa Mosque were opened for Muslim worshippers.

The Palestinians who staged an overnight sat-in inside Al Aqsa were also
allowed to leave through an arrangement with the Awqaf Department in
Jerusalem, he said.

Meanwhile, Jordan made its protest to the Israeli authorities for using
force against Palestinians in the old city and around Al Aqsa compound, the
Minister noted.

//Petra// SD .