Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid an unannounced visit to Jordan for talks with King Abdullah, who stressed the need for Israel to respect the status quo of the al-Aqsa Mosque.

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the grounds of the al-Aqsa Mosque, which Jews revere as the Temple Mount, under heavy guard this month. The visit angered Palestinians and sparked Arab outrage. The complex is Islam's third holiest shrine after Mecca and Medina and Judaism's holiest site.

Abdullah told Netanyahu that Israel must respect "the historical and legal status quo at the al-Aqsa Mosque and not violate it."

Ending the violence, he said, is crucial to restarting the long-stalled peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel.

Netanyahu's office said the two leaders discussed regional issues, especially strategic cooperation, security and economic cooperation between Israel and Jordan.

Netanyahu's return to power has heightened Jordanian fears that far-right policies that include accelerated construction of Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories in the West Bank will provoke a new cycle of violence.