Jordanian Foreign Minister: Jerusalem is in worsening danger, its Islamic and Christian holy sites threatened as never before

A meeting of the foreign ministers of Arab member states of the Arab Ministerial Committee tasked with mobilizing international action to confront illegal Israeli policies and measures in occupied Jerusalem, along with the Secretary-General of the Arab League, and the foreign ministers of Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Malaysia, was held today in the Jordanian capital, Amman.

The meeting discussed the situation in occupied Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites, aiming to formulate a common stance in response to Israel’s escalatory and unlawful measures targeting the identity of Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy places.

The committee includes, in addition to Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Algeria, Somalia, Iraq, Palestine, Qatar, Egypt, and Morocco, as well as the Secretary-General of the Arab League.

Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, who chaired the meeting, accused Israel of entrenching its illegal occupation of East Jerusalem, building settlements, annexing land, confiscating properties, restricting the lives of Jerusalem residents, and separating Jerusalem from the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory, in implementation of a plan aimed at undermining the city’s identity, history, present, and future. He stressed that Israel “violates the sanctity of Islamic and Christian holy sites and besieges the freedom of worship for Muslims and Christians.”

Safadi warned in his address to the meeting that “Jerusalem is in escalating danger, and its Islamic and Christian holy sites are threatened as never before.” He said, “Christian clergy are suffering the brutality of extremism, and churches are confronting attempts to strip them of their funds and lands through illegal Israeli laws, in violation of international law, which decisively stipulates that an occupier has no sovereignty over occupied land.”

He pointed out that Israel’s provocative policies are targeting the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound / the Noble Sanctuary, through unprecedented, systematic attacks that are increasing in scale and nature, and through arrogant attempts to undermine its Islamic identity and alter the historical and legal status quo of the sacred mosque, which throughout its entire area is a place of exclusive worship for Muslims.