RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan participated in a ministerial meeting in support of Jerusalem and its holy sites in Amman on Wednesday.
The minister rejected any attempts to exploit the rhetoric of freedom of worship to justify measures intended to entrench a new political reality and occupation within the city.
“Protecting Jerusalem is a fundamental pillar of any just peace. Justifying or inciting violence based on religious or ideological claims represents a dangerous deviation from the shared values of the Abrahamic faiths and contradicts the principles of equality in human dignity,” Prince Faisal told the meeting.
The meeting comes after an uptick in Israeli government-backed incursions by Jewish religious extremists on the compound around Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock.
The minister also expressed the Kingdom’s appreciation for the historic role played by Jordan in safeguarding Islamic and Christian holy sites in the holy city and preserving its historical identity.
He highlighted the Kingdom’s affirmation that East Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine and that all unilateral measures—including settlement activities and land confiscation—are null and void and cannot establish any legal right or status.
He emphasized the Kingdom’s rejection of all violations aimed at altering the existing legal and historical status quo or changing the city’s identity.
He said: “While the Kingdom has welcomed the announcement by US President Donald Trump regarding the move to implement the second phase of the comprehensive peace plan, we condemn in the strongest terms Israeli military violations in the Gaza Strip. These actions constitute a direct challenge to the agreement, undermine the momentum it generated, and serve the agendas of obstructionists seeking to derail the peace process.”
The minister reiterated the Kingdom’s call for the international community to shoulder its responsibilities and take practical steps to halt violations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, protect holy sites, support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, reject rhetoric of hatred and religious or racial supremacy, and hold accountable those responsible for all forms of incitement that fuel violence and settler terrorism, as well as all practices that undermine prospects for coexistence and peace.
He said that Jerusalem—a city cherished by millions of followers of the Abrahamic faiths—must be a city of peace and coexistence, and a symbol of what can unite humanity, rather than an arena for conflict or the imposition of a fait accompli.
He emphasized that protecting the city and preserving its historical and legal status is key to achieving a just and lasting peace and building a future of security, stability, and prosperity for all the peoples of the region.
Prince Faisal also met with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi on the sidelines of the meeting.
The ministers reviewed Saudi-Jordanian relations and ways to strengthen them, the Kingdom’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
They also discussed regional developments, particularly the developing situation in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and efforts being made regarding them.
The Kingdom’s foreign minister also met with his Egyptian and Iraqi counterparts Badr Abdelatty and Fuad Hussein
