Jordan parliament votes to expel Israeli ambassador

AMMAN

By Ibrahim Qubaylat

The Jordanian parliament on Wednesday voted to expel the Israeli ambassador following an Israeli Knesset debate on proposals to impose Israeli oversight of Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem).

"Parliament voted unanimously to expel the Israeli envoy from Amman," lawmaker Khalil Attia told Anadolu Agency.

The parliament vote is not, however, binding on the Jordanian government.

"We will withdraw confidence from the government if it fails to enforce the move," Attia threatened.

He went on to say that Jordanian lawmakers would address all Islamic and international parliamentary bodies with the aim of "exposing Israeli violations in holy sites in Al-Quds."

On Tuesday, 30 lawmakers signed a petition asking their government to expel the Israeli ambassador and revoke the 1994 peace agreement with Israel.

The move came in response to proposals by an Israeli lawmaker to place the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound under Israeli oversight.

Since the 1950s, the Hashemite Kingdom has administered and overseen all Muslim and Christian religious sites in Al-Quds.

A 1994 peace treaty between Amman and Tel Aviv recognized Jordan's special supervisory role over holy sites in the city.

Al-Quds was captured by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war. In 1980, the self-proclaimed Jewish state annexed the city in a move never recognized by the international community.

Palestinians want Al-Quds–home to theAl-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest shrine– for the capital of their future state.

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