The Israeli embassy in Jordan has been attacked, with a knifeman said to have been shot after stabbing a high-ranking security official at the embassy.

Israel is believed to be evacuating its staff from the premises. Jordan is one of the only Arab nations to have an Israeli embassy.

There have been demonstrations across the Arab world at what has been labelled as Israel’s “encroachment” on the Temple Mount by putting metal detectors at the entrances to the holy site. The additional safety measure was put in place by Israel after Arab terrorists carrying guns descended from the Temple Mount towards the Lion’s gate of the Old City, shooting two Israeli police officers.

There have been particular vociferous protests, however, in Jordan. The country has a significant Palestinian minority, and has official custody over the Temple Mount under a 1994 agreement, controlling the Islamic waqf which runs the site. Senior Jordanian Ministers have criticised Israel for what they have described as “unprecedented Israeli violations and provocations against Al Aqsa”. Israel has responded by pointing out that mosques around the world – including Mecca - have metal detectors installed at entrances for security purposes.

Three Palestinians were killed during demonstrations on Friday morning, while on Friday night a Palestinian terrorist murdered three people eating their Shabbat dinner. The terrorist was shot, but is alive and in Israeli custody.