The apparent rapprochement between Jordan and Saudi Arabia - if it does, is almost a historical wonder! The joint "rival" of the two - Turkey - the one who is buying himself more and more grip on the Temple Mount and the Old City and threatening to push the Jordanians from their Muslim "guardians" on the mountain, is responsible for this surprising turn. 

The duel between the Jordanians and the Saudis for control of the holy places for Islam has been going on for a century: Hussein bin Ali, who served as the sheriff and emir of Mecca between 1908 and 1917, was a descendant of the Hashemite dynasty whose ancestors considered themselves descended from Prophet Muhammad. The Hashemite dynasty (which now dominates Jordan) ruled Saudi Arabia until 1924 and was eliminated by the al-Saud dynasty. Thus, after the First World War, the accusations of the Saudis lost the role of guardian of the holy places in Mecca and the state, and they never forgave the Saudis for doing so.

Jordan, which was officially founded in 1946, occupied East Jerusalem and the Old City only in 1948 - and since then it has been comforted (even after losing territory to Israel during the Six Day War) in the secondary Muslim guardianship of al-Aqsa, the only place holy to Islam. 

The Saudis also stared at the Temple Mount for years, but the Jordanians pushed them over and over again. The last time this happened around the century plan was when Jordan's King Abdullah threatened the US with suspending the peace treaty with Israel if the Americans replaced the Jordanians in the Saudi as Muslim guardians of the mountain and its mosques. Abdullah also opposed the formula of joint guardianship with the Saudis. The century, the royal house and the Jordan Waqf even agreed to incorporate in the Waqf Council that runs the Temple Mount, Sheikh Akrama Sabri, the senior cleric affiliated with Erdogan and Turkey.

The apparent turnaround in the Jordanian position stems from the later understanding that Erdogan's power in East Jerusalem is increasing, including the Old City and the Temple Mount. Jordan is afraid to find herself bald from here on out, so she is considering succumbing to US pressure and cooperating with her historic opponent - Saudi Arabia and the huge fortune, against the new, more dangerous opponent - Turkey.

Ten years after the Marmara affair, Turkey - as widely described in "Israel Today" - became a major player in the campaign on East Jerusalem. It finances construction, renovations and civilian activities of various types, or what is commonly called "da'awa" activity. This is not a terrorist activity, but it is a civil affair with the broad fan base of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jerusalem, from Hamas to the Northern faction of the Islamic Movement (the first - a terrorist organization, and the second - which was outlawed). 

Saudi Arabia and its capital - perhaps the United States, Israel and Jordan, hope to compete with its many Turkish investments. Saudi Arabia may buy itself a foothold in Jerusalem, but will also allow Jordan to rebuild its weakened position in the city vis-à-vis the Turks. Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Israel will be the first pillar to realize the vision that emerged in the peace talks between the late King Hussein and the late Yitzhak Rabin 25 years ago: a multi-religious (informal administration) at the Temple Mount, which is holy to Jews and Muslims.