Safadi chairs Arab ministerial committee meeting to halt illegal Israeli action in occupied Jerusalem

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Thursday headed a meeting of the Arab ministerial committee tasked with implementing steps to halt the illegal Israeli procedures in occupied Jerusalem. 

During the meeting, held prior to the 156th ordinary session of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level in Cairo, Safadi reviewed the Kingdom’s efforts to mobilise international support to stop the Israeli procedures that aim to change the Islamic and Christian Arab identity of occupied Jerusalem and its legal and historic status quo, and undermine opportunities to reach the two-state solution. 

The minister also reviewed the efforts aimed to reach a political ground that allows for resuming serious and effective negotiations to realise just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent sovereign state with East Jerusalem as its capital on the pre-1967 lines, to live side-by-side in peace and security with Israel, according to relevant international resolutions and the Arab peace initiative.

Participating ministers highlighted the importance of combating all illegitimate Israeli procedures, enhancing the resilience of Jerusalemites, and stopping the forcible displacement of residents of the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighbourhoods, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. 

They also called for expediting procedures to reopen the US consulate in East Jerusalem.  

The ministers reiterated the significance of maintaining the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites, rejecting all practices that aim to change this status quo.

They also highlighted the importance of the Hashemite custodianship on Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and its role in preserving these holy sites and their Arab identity. 

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al Maliki and other ministers reviewed efforts they made to halt the Israeli violations in Jerusalem and other occupied Palestinian territories. 

The committee, chaired by Jordan, issued a statement stressing the implementation of intensified diplomatic efforts to support the resilience of the Palestinian people and mobilise the international support necessary to face the illegal Israeli practices. 

The Arab League Secretariat General also issued a report on the Israeli developments and violations in Jerusalem, with reference to the Kingdom’s offer of support to the Sheikh Jarrah residents to preserve their rights. 

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