AMMAN, Nov 1 (KUNA) -- King Abdullah II of Jordan said Sunday that the total area of the Haram Al-Sharif is 144 dunams and Jordan is testing Israeli measures and intentions towards Al-Aqsa Mosque through practices on the ground.
"When I talk about the Al-Haram Al-Sharif, I mean 144 dunams. This is a clarification so there will be no confusion over the Jordanian stance in this regard," the King said.
The King made the statement during a meeting with a number of tribal figures, dignitaries and community leaders from the southern Ma'an governorate for a discussion on a wide range of issues pertaining to public services and development projects in the governorate.
The King reaffirmed Jordan's stance rejecting the division of Al-Aqsa Mosque in terms of prayer times and space, saying this issue is a "red line" for Jordan.
On the regional issue, the King said that the priority now is protecting the Kingdom's northern borders with Syria and eastern ones with Iraq, expressing his confidence in the Jordanian army and security apparatuses in defending the country's borders.
As for the Russian role in Syria, he pointed out that he spoke with the Russian President more than once about the issue of protecting the Kingdom's borders.
The king added that the political solution is the only way for the Syrian crisis.
Jordan and Russia announced a week ago in Vienna an agreement of military cooperation on the situation in Syria that guarantees protecting Jordan northern borders.
The Jordanian-Syrian borders stretch for about 375 kilometers. Dunam is a unit of land area used especially in Israel equal to 1,000 square meters or about 1/4 acre. (end) ab.hm