Jordanians rally in solidarity with Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa

By Laith al-Junaidi

IRBID, Jordan (AA) – Hundreds of people demonstrated on Friday in Jordan’s northern Irbid province to express solidarity with Palestine amid continued Israeli violations against Jerusalem’s iconic Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Organized by Jordan’s Islamic Movement, along with political parties and professional syndicates, marchers set out after Friday prayers from downtown Irbid’s Hashimi Mosque.

“With our souls and blood, we are ready to sacrifice ourselves for Al-Aqsa,” protesters chanted. “The people of Jordan and Palestine share one book [the Quran] and one faith.”

Similar marches and demonstrations were also reported in other Jordanian provinces Friday.

Tension has mounted in occupied East Jerusalem since last month, when Israeli police briefly sealed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound’s Al-Rahma Gate, triggering angry demonstrations by local Palestinians.

In the weeks since, the Israeli authorities have banned scores of Palestinians -- including religious officials -- from entering the mosque complex, which for Muslims represents the world’s third holiest site.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem, in which the Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.