Amman, Aug. 5 (Petra) -- The Hashemite Custodianship over Jerusalem's Muslim and Christian holy sites has withstood repeated Israeli attempts to alter the city's historical identity and legal status, while Jordanian diplomacy continues to lead regional and international efforts to defend Palestinian rights and seek an end to the war and displacement, Jordanian officials said on Wednesday.

Amid intensified diplomatic efforts to safeguard Jerusalem's Arab identity and its holy sites, His Majesty King Abdullah II received members of the Arab Ministerial Committee tasked with mobilizing international action in response to illegal Israeli policies and actions in the occupied city of Jerusalem.

The meeting focused on urgent international action to halt what participants described as the unprecedented escalation in Jerusalem, particularly at Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif.

Abdullah Kanaan, secretary-general of the Royal Committee for Jerusalem Affairs, told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that Jerusalem remains a permanent priority on Jordan's political and diplomatic agenda.

He said the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah, as the holder of the Hashemite Custodianship, continue to guide Jordan's consistent position in support of the Palestinian people.

Kanaan said the meeting took place against a backdrop of mounting regional conflicts, wars, and economic crises that threaten regional and global security.

He noted that His Majesty the King has repeatedly warned of the risks posed by these developments, urging the international community to take immediate action to compel Israel, as the occupying power, to end the conflict, end the occupation, and support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the 1967 lines and in accordance with international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Referring to the king's repeated warnings about settlement expansion and attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem's holy sites, Kanaan said the king's statements in international forums and diplomatic meetings, including gatherings of the Arab ministerial committee, demonstrate an early recognition of the challenges facing future peace efforts.

Among the most pressing challenges, he said, are the Israeli government's refusal to implement international resolutions, efforts to change the historical and legal status quo at the holy sites, continued settlement expansion, settler violence in towns and villages across the occupied West Bank, and repeated attacks on worshippers and merchants in Jerusalem.

Kanaan said Jordan's position under the Hashemite leadership stems from a long history of sacrifice in defense of Palestinian rights and is reinforced by a diplomatic approach that draws strength from international confidence in the Hashemite leadership and its humanitarian and legal principles.

He added that the Hashemite commitment to Arab, Islamic, and Palestinian unity, dating back to the Great Arab Revolt, remains the most effective path toward advancing the interests of the region.

He said that commitment was reflected in Jordan's diplomatic message during the meeting of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers in Amman, held at what he described as a critical stage requiring practical implementation mechanisms to support Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, which he said is facing war and displacement.

Rafiq Kharfan, director-general of the Department of Palestinian Affairs, said the king's repeated emphasis on Jordan's historical and legal role in safeguarding Jerusalem's Muslim and Christian holy sites reaffirms the country's longstanding commitment to defending the city's identity.

Kharfan said the Hashemite Custodianship extends beyond a historical responsibility to represent an enduring trust that reflects Jordan's commitment to protecting the holy sites and opposing unilateral measures that it considers illegal.

He said the king's continued calls for a unified Arab and Islamic position and coordinated international action reflect a clear strategic vision aimed at protecting Palestinian rights and achieving a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.

Kharfan said Jordan, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah, will continue to play its historical and diplomatic role in defending Jerusalem and its holy sites through the Hashemite Custodianship, which he said enjoys broad respect and recognition at both the Arab and international levels.

//Petra// AF

05/08/2026 21:43:21