The Esplanade of the Mosques on the menu of a meeting between Netanyahu and Abdallah of Jordan

A photomontage presenting Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu (left) and King Abdallah II of Jordan (right) AFP - SEBASTIAN SCHEINER,YOUSEF ALLAN

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1 min

For his first trip abroad since his return to power at the end of December, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Tuesday with King Abdullah II of Jordan.

This meeting takes place when relations between Israel and Jordan are at their lowest. 

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With our correspondent in Jerusalem,

In the heart of the Holy City occupied and annexed by Israel, the third holiest site of Islam, the Esplanade of the Mosques, is under Jordanian sovereignty.

A historical and legal

, which dates back to 1967, the year of the conquest of East Jerusalem by the Jewish state.

Successive Israeli Prime Ministers have repeated their attachment to this

, but the reality on the ground raises fears of an upheaval in the situation.

The Esplanade of the Mosques, or the Noble Sanctuary for Muslims, is also called the Temple Mount, the holiest place in Judaism.

For years, voices have been raised in Israel to Judaize the place.

Among them,

recently promoted to the post of Minister of National Security.

Reassure Amman?

Through his trip to Jordan, is

trying to appease and reassure Amman?

His office does not specify.

He publishes a terse press release: “

 ”.

It is finally the Jordanian royal palace which gives the most details.

The two leaders discussed “

”.

The king also called for "

".

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• Israel

• Jordan

• Israelo-Palestinian conflict

• Binyamin Netanyahu

• Abdullah II