Safadi briefed members on the committee’s ongoing efforts to counter Israeli violations in Jerusalem, including incursions into Islamic and Christian holy sites, and warned of dangerous escalation at Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif. He stressed the urgency of halting such practices, which coincide with Israel’s continuing aggression on Gaza and rising tensions across the West Bank, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

 

He also highlighted Jordan’s drive to rally international support against Israel’s attempts to alter the Arab, Islamic and Christian identity of occupied Jerusalem and undermine its legal and historical status.

 

Committee members condemned Israel’s measures in Jerusalem, including incursions by extremist Israeli ministers and officials into Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif. They reiterated that Israel has no sovereignty over the holy city and rejected attempts to alter its historical and legal status.

 

The ministers underscored the importance of the Hashemite Custodianship over Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites, describing it as vital to preserving their Arab, Islamic and Christian identity and upholding their historical and legal status quo.

 

They affirmed that the Jordan-run Jerusalem Awqaf and Aqsa Affairs Department is the sole legal authority managing the site and regulating access to it.

 

Palestinian Foreign Minister Fadwa Barghouti presented a detailed briefing on Israel’s systematic violations, including settlement expansion, land confiscation, home demolitions, arbitrary arrests and incursions into Al Aqsa Mosque. She warned of the grave implications of Israel’s E1 settlement plan, which would sever Jerusalem from its Palestinian surroundings and fragment the West Bank into isolated cantons.

 

The committee denounced restrictions on Muslim worshippers at Al Aqsa, as well as increasing attacks against Christian institutions in Jerusalem, including the freezing of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate’s bank accounts and vandalism of churches and cemeteries. They stressed that East Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Palestine and rejected any unilateral measures undermining Palestinian sovereignty.

 

The ministers stressed that achieving a just and comprehensive peace hinges on ending the occupation and establishing a sovereign, viable and contiguous Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with the pre-1967 borders, the two-state solution, international law and the Arab Peace Initiative.

 

Reaffirming relevant UN Security Council and UNESCO resolutions, the ministers called for concerted Arab and Islamic efforts to mobilise international support against Israel’s attempts to alter the city’s character. They agreed to strengthen cooperation with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, enhance documentation of violations, and intensify diplomatic engagement with influential international actors to impose deterrent measures on Israel.

 

The Arab Ministerial Committee, chaired by Jordan, includes Iraq, Palestine, Algeria, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and the Arab League Secretary-General.

 

Also on Thursday, Safadi held a series of bilateral meetings with Arab counterparts, focusing on strengthening ties between Jordan and its neighbours and coordinating on regional developments.

 

Safadi met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Sheebani, reiterating Jordan’s full support for Syria’s security, stability, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and citizens. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 164th Ordinary Session of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level, where Jordan formally handed over the chairmanship of the session to the UAE.

 

During the session, Safadi chaired the Arab ministerial committee responsible for international action against Israel’s illegal policies and measures in occupied Jerusalem. He also participated in the ministerial meeting of the Follow-up and Implementation Commission on Arab League decisions and commitments.

 

Safadi also held talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Ati under the framework of joint Arab coordination. Both ministers stressed the urgent need to stop Israeli aggression in Gaza, curb dangerous escalations in the West Bank, and ensure the delivery of adequate and sustainable humanitarian aid to Gaza. They also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations between Jordan and Egypt across multiple fields.

 

Safadi also met with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, reviewing bilateral relations and coordinating joint positions on regional developments.

 

He also held talks with Mauritanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation Mohamed Salem Marzouq, where they discussed regional developments and opportunities to enhance bilateral cooperation.