Jakarta, CNNIndonesia —
Minister of State English for the affairs of the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and the United Nations (UN), Lord Tariq Ahmad, visited East Jerusalem and joined the prayers in Masjid Al-AqsaThursday (12/1).
“It was an honor and a privilege to spend time at the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque this morning with the Director of the Jerusalem Waqf Department Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib,” Lord Ahmad said on Twitter.
The British Muslim minister emphasized Britain’s “unwavering support” for Jordan as the protector of holy sites in Jerusalem, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Britain, said Ahmad, also urged protection the status quo over the holy sites in Jerusalem, the city holy to Muslims, Jews and Christians.
The status quo allows Muslims to worship in the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex. Meanwhile, Christians and Jews can still visit the complex for a spiritual journey.
Apart from Jerusalem, Ahmad also visited the city of Hebron in the West Bank, Palestine, and toured a number of places in the city.
This trip is part of his first tour to Palestine since being appointed minister.
Ahmad also met Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in West Jerusalem and visited Ramallah to meet Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki.
News agency quoted Anadolu, Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site for Muslims. The mosque was the first Qibla for Muslims in the world before being moved to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Jews refer to the Al-Aqsa complex as the Temple Mount which is believed to be the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
Meanwhile, Israel captured East Jerusalem from the Palestinians during the 1967 War. Israel annexed all of Jerusalem in 1980, a move until now not recognized by the international community.
(rds/bac)
