‘Jordan supports Bethlehem nomination as capital of Arab culture’

AMMAN — Jordan supports the nomination of Jerusalem as capital of Islamic culture and Bethlehem as capital of Arab culture, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said on Tuesday.

Ensour made these remarks at a meeting with Palestinian Culture Minister Ehab Bseiso, who asked Jordan to support Jerusalem and Bethlehem in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

Bseiso said the two projects would highlight Palestine’s cause and the resilience of its people, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He also highlighted efforts to include Bethlehem, which symbolises Islamic-Christian coexistence, in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Ensour stressed the importance of preserving Bethlehem’s Christian component, which is part of the Arab civilisation. Culture Minister Lana Mamkegh attended the meeting.