AMMAN: Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates on Friday strongly condemned Israel for its decision to strip Hebron Municipality of its planning and construction authority over the Ibrahimi Mosque in the West Bank.
The ministry described the move as a blatant violation of international law and the historical and legal status quo at the holy site, the Jordan News Agency reported.
On Wednesday, the Israeli Civil Administration, which oversees the occupied West Bank, said it had transferred planning powers from the Palestinian Authority’s Hebron Municipality to its own Supreme Planning Council. The announcement was accompanied by approval for a project to construct a roof over the mosque’s internal courtyard, a move that has drawn fierce opposition from Palestinians.
The municipality condemned the decision as a “serious and illegal violation” by Israeli authorities, describing it as part of a systematic effort to alter the status quo at the mosque and weaken the authority of Palestinian institutions responsible for its management.
The Jordanian Foreign Ministry said Israel, as the occupying power, was acting unlawfully by unilaterally approving construction work at the mosque and stripping Palestinian authorities of their administrative powers. The actions undermine Islamic administration of the site, it warned.
