The chairman of the Arab Ra’am party, Mansour Abbas, posted on his Arabic language Facebook page that his party’s position regarding the Temple Mount and their position within the coalition will follow the dictates of the King of Jordan. 

“We do not address leaks and repeated rumors from official and unofficial political sources. The position of Ra’am in the coalition regarding the Temple Mount issue will be determined based on the results of the meetings of the Jordanian-Israeli International Committee.”

“Every other position is preoccupation and political trade on this sacred subject,” Abbas wrote. “I informed the leadership of the government (the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister) of this clear and categorical position after my consultation meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II two weeks ago.”

“I also confirm that the demands and positions regarding the Temple Mount are set and managed by His Majesty King Abdullah II, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, guard of the Blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Protector of Jerusalem. With the constant declaration that the final solution is the end of the occupation and the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, with Holy Jerusalem as its capital, with the Al-Aqsa Mosque at its heart. It is our duty to support the efforts of King Abdullah II, as is the duty of all Arab and Muslim rulers. The issue of the Temple Mount is an issue of the entire Islamic nation and not a local political issue for the Ra’am.”

Abbas traveled to Jordan to meet with King Abdullah eleven days ago. The trip was conducted with the knowledge of PM Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid. 

After the meeting, Abbas posted to his Facebook page:

“I have informed the Prime Minister and the Alternate Prime Minister [Yair Lapid] of our clear and determined position following our meeting with the King of Jordan. Our demands and positions on the Al Aqsa Mosque have been determined by King Abdallah the Second, who is charged with preserving the Al Aqsa Mosque and the holy sites of Jerusalem. We stress that the permanent solution is the end to the occupation and the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, with Jerusalem its capital and at its heart, the Al Aqsa Mosque.”

Dr. Mordechai Kedar, a senior lecturer in the Department of Arabic at Bar-Ilan University, emphasized that neither Abbas nor the King of Jordan is interested in the Temple Mount because it is holy.

“In Islam, religion is politics, and politics is a religion,” Dr. Kedar said. “They all want Jerusalem to give legitimacy to their cause.”

Dr. Kedar explained the interest in the Temple Mount explained the relationship between Abbas and the King of Jordan using a parable.

“It is like thieves who cooperate to carry out a heist,” Dr. Kedar said. “They are best friends until it comes time to divide the loot. Then they turn on each other.”

“There is no doubt that Abbas and the King of Jordan are on the same page, cooperating against a common enemy. And it isn’t only Israel,” Dr. Kedar said. “They are maneuvering against Hamas, which is trying to dominate the Temple Mount.”

“Once Israel is out of Israel and Hamas is under control, then the Palestinians will revolt against Jordan like they have done inside Jordan in the past.”