Israel’s highest religious body gave its formal approval this week to the July 28 Washington Declaration, which officially brought to an end the 46-year state of war between Israel and Jordan.
But while approving the agreement on Monday, the Chief Rabbinical Council requested that it take part in any future discussions on the status of the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem.
The council, which includes both Ashkenazic and Sephardic religious leaders, made the request as a result of a provision in the declaration in which Israel recognized Jordan’s traditional role as guardian of the religious sites, which include the el-Aksa and Omar Mosques.
In a statement issued after its meeting Monday, the council said that the historic right of the Jewish people to the Temple Mount was not open to dispute.
“The Mount is the sanctuary which was the holy place of the Jewish people, to which they directed their prayers daily for thousands of years,” the statement read.
Israel’s recognition of Jordan’s role at the holy sites has been the subject of much criticism from the Palestinian leadership, which hopes to establish eastern Jerusalem as the capital of an eventual Palestinian state.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
