Cairo - Jordan on Friday urged Israel to "immediately reopen" the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem which Israeli security forces closed after a Arab Israeli gunmen killed two Israeli policemen in the Holy City. Jordan is the custodian of the compound in Israeli-occupied east Jerusalem, and has repeatedly denounced what it says are violations of rules at Islam's third holiest site. "Israel must reopen Al-Aqsa mosque and the Haram al-Sharif (compound) immediately," said government spokesman Mohamed Momani and Information Minister. He added in a statement carried by the official Petra news agency that Israel must "refrain from taking any step aimed at changing the historical" status quo of Jerusalem or the Al-Aqsa mosque compound. In an unusual move, Israeli security forces closed the site after three Arab Israelis opened fire on police in Jerusalem, killing two officers. The assailants fled but were shot dead at the site known to Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif -- which includes Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock -- and to Jews as the Temple Mount. "Jordan rejects any attack on the rights of Muslims," Momani said. The closing of the mosque on the weekly day of prayers meant the faithful had to worship outside.
