Uri Ariel
Uri ArielFlash 90

Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel (Jewish Home) responded to the Jordanian government's threat to revoke the 1994 peace agreement with Israel, due to controversy over the Temple Mount.

Israel temporarily closed the Mount to both Jewish and Muslim worshippers on Thursday, in an attempt to calm tensions. 

Jordan has been threatening to nullify the peace treaty at various times for months. In February, Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah Nsur threatened to pull the treaty if the Knesset were to continue advancing a bill to allow Jews to pray on the Mount. 

Jordan has also been pushing in the UN Security Council to advance the Palestinian Authority's demand for Israeli withdrawals through unilateral moves.

"I hear the Jordanians are threatening the peace agreement and wonder if they have forgotten the Six Day War and the years in which King Hussein leaned on Israel. The Temple Mount and Jerusalem are under Israeli sovereignty just as Amman is under the absolute rule of Jordan. They should internalize this fact," Ariel wrote. 

In the aftermath of recent events, US Secretary of State, John Kerry issued a statement calling on all parties to exercise restraint in regard to recent incidents of violence in the Israeli capital.

"It is critical that the parties will act with restraint and avoid provocative statement," Kerry said, adding that maintaining the historical status quo on the Temple Mount is of utmost importance.  

"The continued commitment by Israelis, Palestinians, and Jordanians to preserve the historic status quo at this holy site is critical; any decisions or actions to change it would be both provocative and dangerous.”

In his statement, Kerry also denounced the assassination attempt of Yehuda Glick, who holds both US and Israeli citizenship, adding that his thoughts and prayers are with Glick's family.