CRI听力:Israel, Jordan Agree to Reduce Mid-East Tension: Kerry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says Israel and Jordan have committed to a series of practical steps to reduce tensions over Jerusalem holy sites.

Kerry made the comment after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Natanyahu and Jordan's King Abdullah II, as well as separate talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

"Prime Minister Netanyahu strongly reaffirmed Israel's commitment uphold the status quo of al-Haram al-Sharif Temple Mount and to implement these steps, and King Abdullah also agreed to continue to take affirmative steps to restore calm and implement practical measures to prevent further escalations of tensions."

Kerry says Abbas has pledged to curb incitement and violence.

Unrest has flared in the past few weeks over Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque after Israel imposed an age limit for Muslims. The site is holy to both Muslims and Jews.

Earlier, Israel also approved plans for 200 homes in a settlement in East Jerusalem.

Jordan recalled its ambassador to Israel last week to protest the crackdown on protesters at the mosque, the first time it had done so since 1994.

The leader of Hamas' armed wing has warned that actions by Israel could prove the spark of a new explosion in the region.

Israeli police have already announced that they will lift all age restrictions at the mosque from today.