Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday night sharply rejected a declaration by Arab and Muslim foreign ministers condemning Israeli actions in Jerusalem, calling the accusations false, distorted, and deeply cynical.
The statement came after a meeting in Amman convened by Jordan, attended by members of the Arab Ministerial Committee on Jerusalem, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and representatives from Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
According to Jordan’s Petra News Agency, the ministers agreed to establish a permanent mechanism, including an international media platform, to document alleged Israeli “violations” at Jerusalem’s holy sites. They also reaffirmed support for Jordan’s custodianship over Islamic and Christian sites in the city, the foundation of the so-called “status quo.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the declaration was built on “false accusations, historical distortions, and a complete disregard for the facts.”
Most pointedly, Jerusalem accused the Arab and Muslim ministers of hypocrisy for charging Israel with violating freedom of worship while insisting that the entire Temple Mount is exclusively a Muslim place of prayer.
“It is particularly cynical to accuse Israel of violating freedom of worship while declaring that the entire Temple Mount is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims,” the ministry said.
The declaration endorsed by the Foreign Ministers of the Arab Ministerial Committee, convened by Jordan, is built on false accusations, historical distortions, and a complete disregard for the facts.
It is particularly cynical to accuse Israel of violating freedom of worship…
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) August 5, 2026
The Arab and Muslim ministers speak the language of religious freedom, but only in one direction. Muslim worship on the Temple Mount is treated as sacred and unquestionable. Jewish prayer at the site where both biblical temples once stood is treated as a provocation, a violation, or a threat.
Israel, meanwhile, notes that “under Israeli sovereignty, Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the State of Israel, has never been more open and accessible to worshippers of all faiths.”
Israel added that it remains committed to preserving freedom of worship, maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount, and ensuring public order and safety for all visitors.
The controversy once again exposes the double standard surrounding Jerusalem. Israel is expected to guarantee access and security for all religions, while being condemned whenever Jews assert even the most limited connection to their holiest site.
There is no serious discussion of religious freedom in Jerusalem that begins by erasing the Jewish people from the Temple Mount.
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