AMMAN, Jordan (AP) – Jordan’s King Abdullah says the interiors of two mosques at a sensitive Jerusalem holy site will be exempt from monitoring by security cameras.
The fate of the walled compound in Jerusalem – known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary – is at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is the holiest site in Judaism and was home to biblical Jewish Temples. Muslims believe it is the spot where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced the plan to install round-the-clock video monitoring at the site last month in a bid to quell weeks of violence.
Israel welcomed the idea, saying it could counter Palestinian claims that it was trying to increase Jewish access to the site. But the Palestinians criticized the plan, saying Israel could use the cameras to spy on and arrest people.
King Abdullah’s remarks Thursday appear to be an attempt to allay those concerns.
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