International press reports have revealed intensive American and Israeli moves aimed at stripping the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan of its historical guardianship over the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem. These moves seek to impose new administrative arrangements that would place the holy Islamic site under direct supervision that fully serves Israeli interests.
The plan, led by Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law, and former US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, calls for the sudden termination of the authority of the Islamic Endowments Department, which is affiliated with Jordan. The proposal aims to establish a new body appointed by the Israeli government, declaring Al-Aqsa Mosque a 'multi-faith center' open for official Jewish prayers.
According to informed sources, the new arrangements will grant settlers and Jews equal rights to enter the mosque and perform large-scale communal prayers. The plan also grants the Israeli occupation authorities the right to appoint imams and preachers, and to directly intervene in reviewing and approving the content of Friday sermons within the Al-Aqsa compound.
Diplomatic sources explained that Washington has drafted a working paper summarizing its vision for transforming Al-Aqsa Mosque from its purely Islamic identity into a global tourist landmark embracing the three religions. This step comes within broader efforts to change the religious and historical character of occupied Jerusalem to align with the Israeli right-wing vision.
The leaks indicate that the American proposal included granting Arab countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Egypt, a 'rotational' supervisory role over the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex. These countries were briefed on the idea, while clear Saudi opposition to the proposal emerged due to the historical ties and close alliance between Riyadh and Amman.
For its part, a source close to decision-making circles in Jordan affirmed that the Kingdom adheres to the guardianship file and rejects any infringement upon it, considering it a red line that cannot be crossed. The source indicated that the Americans expressed their displeasure with continuous Jordanian complaints regarding repeated Israeli violations in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The plan raises major concerns about the fate of Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, as King Abdullah II also holds guardianship over the Churches of the Holy Sepulchre and the Ascension. The American-Israeli proposal did not address the status of these holy sites, which opens the door to questions about the future of the Christian presence in the Holy City.
Jordanian officials stressed that the Hashemite guardianship is internationally recognized under the peace treaty signed in 1994 and cannot be canceled by unilateral decisions. They clarified that Jordan is currently coordinating with its Palestinian and Arab partners to prevent any change in the existing legal and historical status of Islamic and Christian holy sites.
The Israeli vision in this proposal relies on the model of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, where it was divided temporally and spatially between Muslims and Jews after the 1994 massacre. Palestinian circles fear that applying this model in Al-Aqsa will lead to the loss of full Islamic sovereignty over the mosque and its courtyards.
Guardianship over holy sites is a cornerstone of the legitimacy of the ruling family in Jordan since 1924, and it represents a safety valve for regional stability. Experts warned that any attempt to dismantle these arrangements could ignite a wave of widespread anger in the Arab and Islamic worlds, given the extreme sensitivity of the Jerusalem file.
In a related context, Gulf sources confirmed that Saudi Arabia views Jordanian guardianship as a guarantee of stability, despite some differences in other files. The sources indicated that Riyadh understands the dire consequences that could result from changing the status quo in Jerusalem, especially amid current regional tensions.
Despite the Emirati-Israeli rapprochement in the fields of technology and defense, observers warn of the danger of engaging in 'coexistence' initiatives that could be politically exploited. Palestinian officials fear that these initiatives may contribute to legitimizing a permanent Jewish presence within Al-Aqsa Mosque.
For its part, the Jerusalem Governorate denied knowledge of any official proposal in this regard, affirming its absolute rejection of any Israeli interference in the work of the Endowments Department. The Governorate indicated that the occupation is escalating its restrictions on the mosque's guards and employees concurrently with an increase in the frequency of settler incursions.
Following the circulation of this news, a White House official issued a brief statement denying the existence of an actual plan to strip Jordan of its guardianship at present. However, political circles in Amman and Jerusalem still view American moves with suspicion, especially with hardline figures like Mike Huckabee in influential positions.
The Hashemite guardianship is the cornerstone of stability in the region, and undermining it is tantamount to undermining the foundations of peace itself.
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US-Israeli Plan to End Jordanian Guardianship and Transform Al-Aqsa into a Multi-Faith Center