Prime Minister: Jordan cancels plan to install cameras in Al Aqsa Mosque

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said that Jordan has always been, and will remain the staunchest supporter and defender of Palestine, its people and cause as well as its holy shrines.

Ensour added in a statement to Jordan News Agency, Petra, on Monday that, "stemming from this historic stance, the main objective behind Jordan's decision to install surveillance cameras at Haram Al Sharif compound and not inside the mosque, was to monitor and document the continued Israeli violations against Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif, which extends over an area of 144 dunums.

The objective of installing these cameras, he added was to gain legal, political and media advantages in the face of the continued Israeli practices against the sanctity of the holy places, and enable Muslims around the world to follow what is happening in the courtyards of Al Aqsa Mosque and increase their sympathy and support to it. "At the beginning, Israel tried to hinder the project through various means, but we were able to overcome that," Ensour added.

"However, we were surprised since our intention to carry out the project, by the response of some of our Palestinian brethren to the project, adding that they voiced their concern and cast doubt on its aims and objectives. "As we respect the points of views of our brethren in Palestine in general and in Jerusalem in particular, and because we always affirm our full support to the Palestinians and their aspirations at all times, we found that this project is a point of contentious and therefore, we decided to halt its implementation.

The prime minister reiterated Jordan's constant stance in defending Jerusalem and its holy shrines at all diplomatic, legal and media levels. 

Source ; Petra