Safadi, France’s Colonna discuss ‘dangerous’ Israeli escalation at Al Aqsa

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, in a phone call on Thursday with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna, discussed the “dangerous” Israeli escalation at Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif and international stances required to stop the escalation.

The two sides also focused on respecting the existing legal and historical status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

Safadi stressed the need to crystallise an effective international action to stop Israeli violations at Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif.

The Jordanian minister also highlighted the need to respect the legal and historical status quo of Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif and in all Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

During the call, which took place prior to an emergency session of the UN Security Council to discuss the Israeli escalation at a joint Jordanian-Palestinian invitation and at the request of the UAE, the Arab member of the council, Safadi stressed the danger of the Israeli minister's storming of Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif and its repercussions on security and stability.

Safadi also warned of the danger of extremist exclusionary ideology that the Israeli minister adopts and the need to send a clear international message condemning and rejecting it.

Safadi extended thanks to Colonna for her country's position, which rejected the storming, highlighting the need to respect the legal and historical status quo of the holy sites, and to support the role of the Hashemite Custodianship over them.

The Jordanian minister also expressed appreciation for France’s support for holding the Security Council session on Thursday. 

Colonna reiterated her country’s calling for respecting the legal and historical status quo in Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif and stopping all unilateral measures that undermine the two-state solution.

The two ministers agreed to continue cooperation, through the Munich Group, which includes Jordan, France, Egypt and Germany, to put an end to measures that undermine the chances of achieving a just and comprehensive peace, and find “a real political horizon” and resume negotiations to resolve the conflict on the basis of the two-state solution.