Kerry announces steps to calm tensions over Jerusalem holy site

Israel and Jordan have agreed on steps to calm tensions at a holy site in Jerusalem that has been the subject of a recent spate of Israeli-Palestinian violence, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Saturday.

{mosads}Kerry’s comments came during his trip to Jordan, who is the custodian of the hilltop site that Jews refer to as Temple Mount and Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, or al-Aqsa Mosque.  

Kerry said the steps include round-the-clock video monitoring and Israel’s reaffirming of Jordan’s special and historic role as custodian, according to the Associated Press.

He said Israel is pledging to maintain the rules of worship at the site, and that Israeli and Jordanian authorities will meet about bolstering security.

Deadly violence had broken out between Israelis and Palestinians earlier this month, over Palestinian concerns that Israel is trying to restrict access to the site. 

Kerry made the announcement after meeting King Abdullah II and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan’s capital city of Amman. Kerry had met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Berlin on Thursday.