Jordan was the second Arab nation to sign a peace treaty with Israel (after Egypt) but the diplomatic relations between the neighbors have been strained over the last couple years. During his tenure as prime minister, Yair Lapid made an effort to restore the relationship, making two visits to Amman during his six months in office. However, relations have once again been tested over the last month, due to two incidents at the Temple Mount.

The first incident was Ben Gvir’s visit to the holy site just three days after he was sworn in, and secondly, an unfortunate incident occurred last week when the Jordanian ambassador to Israel was denied entry to the Temple Mount. Following both instances, the Hashemites summoned the Israeli ambassador to express their disapproval.

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Amman yesterday, to discuss with King Abdullah the sequence of events which led to the cooling of ties between the two nations, and to reaffirm their commitment to cooperation. Security coordination is in the interest of both nations, due to their Palestinian populations; Palestinian unrest in Judea and Samaria could also destabilize Abdullah’s rule.

Please pray for renewed cooperation between Israel and Jordan! Please pray for calm in Judea and Samaria. Lastly, please pray for wisdom for Israeli leaders in handling sensitive issues such as the Temple Mount.