Jordan recalls Ambassador to Israel following 'violations' at holy site in Jerusalem

AMMAN, Jordan, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Jordan's ambassador to Israel was recalled Wednesday in response to unrest at a holy site in Jerusalem.

According to Jordanian news agency Petra, Ambassador Walid Obeidat was summoned back to Amman "to protest against the unprecedented and escalated Israeli aggressions at the Al Haram Al Sharif compound in occupied Jerusalem, and its repeated violations in the holy city."

Al Haram Al Sharif, also known as Temple Mount, is a compound of ancient Jerusalem buildings sacred to both Jews and Muslims, that has been the scene of recent clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters following the shooting of prominent right-wing activist Rabbi Yehuda Glick last week.

"Holy sites should not become the sites of tension," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday after meeting with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh in Paris.

"In my conversation with Foreign Minister Judeh, we... discussed the increasing tensions recently in areas across Jerusalem, and particularly surrounding the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount. ... And the confrontation at the al-Aqsa Mosque is also of particular concern where reports of damage are deeply disturbing. Holy sites should not become the sites of tension, and concrete steps need to be taken now by all sides to de-escalate this situation."

Kerry noted that U.S. officials "are in touch with both sides on this matter and hope that all parties will draw back and reduce these tensions."

Judeh said following their meeting that he intends to lodge a formal complaint with the United Nations Security Council regarding Israel's "escalatory practices" at holy sites.

Tensions were further heightened Wednesday when a Palestinian man intentionally drove his vehicle into a crowd in East Jerusalem, killing one and injuring at least 13 others. Hamas praised "this heroic operation" and called for "more such .... operations."