Kingdom marks Jerusalem custodianship deal anniversary

AMMAN — A ceremony was held Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of the Jordanian-Palestinian agreement under which the Palestinian side reaffirmed the status of His Majesty King Abdullah as the custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem.

Deputising for HRH Prince Ghazi, King’s chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs and personal envoy, Awqaf Minister Hayel Dawood acted as patron at the ceremony, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

On April 1, 2013, King Abdullah and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed the agreement which was meant to facilitate efforts by Jordan and Palestine to protect Jerusalem and its holy sites from “Israeli escalatory Judaisation measures” and preserve hundreds of waqf properties endowed to Al Aqsa Mosque. Also under the deal, King Abdullah enjoys the full right to exert all legal efforts to safeguard and preserve Jerusalem’s holy sites, especially Al Aqsa Mosque, the main component of Al Haram Al Sharif (or Noble Sanctuary) compound, whose area is estimated at 144 dunums.