Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled a historic visit to the United States of Emirates yesterday, citing ‘difficulties’ in co – ordinating with Jordan over crossing its airspace.
The Prime Minister “was expected to visit the United Arab Emirates today,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
On Wednesday, Prince Hussein bin Abdullah had planned to visit the Al-Aqsa mosque, which is part of the hilltop complex known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount and for which Jordan is the custodian.
But the royal delegation turned back at an Israeli-controlled border crossing as a dispute emerged about the number of armed bodyguards travelling with the prince, according to Israeli media.
There was no immediate comment from Jordan’s government on the overflight request.
But state TV quoted Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi as saying that Prince Hussein had cancelled the visit to the Al-Aqsa mosque because Israel had sought to change the program in a manner Jordan considered harmful to the right of Palestinians and other Muslims to worship at the site.
“The crown prince did not want to allow Israel to impose restrictions on Muslims,” he added.
The statement further read – “His visit was delayed due to difficulties co – ordinating his Jordanian flight in airspace.”
The statement concluded that Jordan had ultimately cleared Netanyahu’s plane for travel.
But since, the clearance was received late, the Prime Minister and Crown Prince Shaikh Mohammad bin Zayed agreed to co – ordinate on another date for the Prime Minister’s visit.