Palestinian minister commends Kingdom’s role in protecting Jerusalem’s holy sites

AMMAN — Palestinian Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Ashraf Awar on Sunday briefed Jordanian Ambassador to Palestine Issam Bdour on the Israeli violations against Jerusalemite citizens and the Islamic and Christian holy sites in the occupied Jerusalem.

Awar voiced his gratitude and appreciation to His Majesty King Abdullah for the Kingdom's prominent role in protecting the Islamic and Christian holy sites and Jerusalem institutions, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He also commended the Kingdom's humanitarian aid to Jerusalemites, and for His Majesty's support to the Palestinian government and people in establishing their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, stressing the importance of the Hashemite custodianship over the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

The minister spoke about the Israeli violations, including demolition operations and violations against Jerusalemites, the occupation's attempts to impose Israeli curricula in Palestinian schools in East Jerusalem, and the needs of the towns located in the outskirts of Jerusalem and those outside the separation wall.

Bdour reiterated King Abdullah's stance on the necessity of stopping the war against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and occupied Jerusalem and highlighted the Kingdom's ongoing efforts on the Arab and international levels to establish the independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The diplomat added that Jordan spares no effort to protect the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem in accordance with the Hashemite custodianship.

The two officials hailed the "strong, brotherly" relations between the Jordanian and Palestinian peoples and the need to continue coordinating positions and enhancing cooperation between the two countries.