More staff to be appointed at Jerusalem shrine

AMMAN — Awqaf Minister Hayel Dawood on Saturday said several decisions will be taken in the upcoming days related to protecting the holy sites in Jerusalem.

In a radio interview, the minister noted that 80 imams and muezzins will be appointed to Al Aqsa and other mosques located in Jerusalem to address the shortage in these jobs in the old city, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He added that firefighters, cleaners and administrative staff will also be appointed in Jerusalem soon.

Dawood said the ministry, in cooperation with the Tourism Ministry, had appointed 10 tourist guides to highlight the true Arab and Islamic version of the city’s history to counter allegations by Israeli guides, according to Petra.

Earlier this month, His Majesty King Abdullah, the custodian of Jerusalem’s holy sites, directed the government to begin with administrative procedures to appoint 50 new guards at Al Aqsa Mosque to bolster security.