Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Jordanian King Abdullah II in Amman and committed to maintaining the status quo in Jerusalem, according to a senior Israeli official.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets Jordan's King Abdullah II during a visit to Amman on Jan. 16, 2014. Photo: Handout/Jordanian royal court via Getty Imagesmet with Jordanian King Abdullah II in Amman on Tuesday and committed to maintaining the status quo in Jerusalem, according to a senior Israeli official.It was Netanyahu's first foreign trip since he returned to the prime minister post a month ago.
The compound, which is considered the holiest site for Jews and the third holiest for Muslims, is administered by the Jordanian Islamic Waqf and protected by the Israeli police, per the status quo rules.A senior Israeli official said Tuesday's meeting lasted two hours and was held in a good atmosphere. A big part of the meeting dealt with security cooperation between the countries and the situation at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
Ronen Bar, the head of Israel’s domestic security service Shin Bet and in charge of security in the West Bank and Jerusalem, attended the meeting, which also included the head of the Jordanian general intelligence service.“King Abdullah stressed in his meeting with Netanyahu the importance of respecting the historical and legal status quo at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound," the royal court said in a statement.
According to the royal court, the king stressed the need to maintain calm and cease all acts of violence "in order to pave the way for a political horizon for the peace process, calling for an end to any measures that could undermine peace prospects."
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