AMMAN — Director of Al Aqsa Mosque Omar Al Kiswani on Wednesday commended His Majesty King Abdullah’s steadfast efforts to safeguard Islamic and Christian holy sites in Palestine, particularly in light of recent acts of vandalism by extremist Israeli settlers targeting St. George’s Church (Al Khader) and a historic Christian cemetery in Taybeh, near Ramallah.

 

Kiswani said the King’s commitment has helped draw international attention to the growing number of violations by extremist Israeli groups against religious sites, especially in Jerusalem.

 

He urged the international community to support King Abdullah’s initiatives aimed at halting ongoing attacks on Muslim and Christian holy places across the Palestinian territories, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

 

Highlighting the King’s leadership in protecting Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif, encompassing the entire 144-dunum compound, Kiswani noted that several key restoration projects have been carried out under Royal directives. These include upgrades to the mosque’s electrical, lighting, sound, and flooring systems.

 

He also pointed to the establishment of the Al Mustafa Endowment for Quran recitation, and Royal support for employment programmes that have created over 1,000 jobs through the Islamic Awqaf Department and Al Aqsa Mosque, initiatives that have helped hundreds of Jerusalemite families remain in the city.

 

Kiswani emphasised that the Hashemite Custodianship remains a crucial bulwark against Israeli efforts to alter the historical and legal status quo at Al Aqsa Mosque.