Prime Minister Naftali Bennett took to social media on Monday to respond to the Jordanian Foreign Ministry summoning Israel's Ambassador to Amman Eitan Surkis following days of clashes between Palestinians and IDF soldiers in Jerusalem.
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As Surkis was out of the country, Deputy Ambassador Sami Abu Janeb attended the meeting.
"This past week, Hamas has been waging a campaign of wild incitement against us. This is the truth: Israel is doing all it can so that everyone can celebrate the holidays safely – Jews, Muslims and Christians. We expect everyone not to take part in the lies or encourage violence against Jews. Israel will continue to keep our capital, Jerusalem, open to everyone."
The Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, issued a statement saying that Jordan's summons and the message it sent out following the meeting "hurt attempts to restore quiet to Jerusalem and give a tailwind to those who are attacking the sanctity of the holidays and perpetrating dangerous violence that puts the lives of both Muslim and Jewish citizens in danger. We call on everyone to help Israel's efforts to restore quiet to Jerusalem and allow freedom of worship on the Temple Mount."
According to the Foreign minister, "Israel is committed to and works tirelessly for freedom of worship for Jews, Muslims, and Christians in Jerusalem, on holidays and regular days, certain in this time when Passover, Ramadan, and Easter coincide."
The Foreign Ministry said that Israel's "responsible conduct" on the Temple Mount in the past few weeks expressed that policy, and the government's determination to enforce it.
"In the past few weeks, the Israel Police have acted responsibly, with restraint, and exercised judgment when dealing with dozens of rioters whose actions are desecrating Islam and the sanctity of the Mount. The police's actions, including last Friday, are what allow tens of thousands of Muslim faithful to pray there. These actions were taken only as a last resort, after other methods – including intensive talks with the Muslim Waqf – failed," the ministry said.
The ministry's statement concluded with an exhortation to "every responsible partner" to admit that, and refrain from taking part in spreading false reports "that only incite."
"Statements of support for acts of violence, including rock throwing, are inconceivable and contribute to escalation. Israel is upholding the status quo [on the Temple Mount] and expects all its partners to condemn the extremists who are busy with incitement and violence," the ministry said.
The UN Security Council is due to convene on Tuesday to discuss recent tensions on and around the Temple Mount.
On Saturday, Jordan, which serves as custodian of Al-Aqsa Mosque, referred on Saturday to the Temple Mount clashes as an Israeli "invasion" and warned of the "danger of this grave escalation."
In light of the situation in #Jerusalem, #NorwayUNSC
together with UAE, France, Ireland & China called for #UNSC closed consultations on "Situation in the #MiddleEast"@UNSCO_MEPP Coordinator @TWennesland will brief the Council
19 April AM after UNSMIL pic.twitter.com/tgtj1S5MG3
— NorwayUN (@NorwayUN) April 18, 2022
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
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