Jordan king vows to protect Jerusalem holy sites

Jordan’s King Abdullah, opening his country’s parliament, vows to protect Jerusalem holy sites for Muslims and Christians.

“Jordan will remain at the forefront of defending Arab and Muslim causes and we will continue to uphold our historical duty in safeguarding Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem,” he says in the speech.

The remarks come as in Jerusalem, Israeli lawmakers are attending a conference to push for allowing greater Jewish access to the Temple Mount, if not Jewish prayer there, a powder keg issue that could enrage Jordan and the rest of the Arab world and which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to prevent in the name of keeping the status quo on the holy site.

Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel (Jewish Home) calls on Netanyahu to open the gates of Temple Mount to Jews.

“Enough of the shame, enough of the insult, enough of the lack of sovereignty,” he says.