AMMAN — Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan affirmed that safeguarding Jerusalem and its holy sites remains a fundamental pillar for achieving a just and lasting peace in the region. Addressing the Ministerial Meeting in support of Jerusalem and its Holy Sites in the Jordanian capital Amman on Wednesday, he called on the international community to take concrete measures to halt Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.Members of the Arab Ministerial Committee tasked with mobilizing international action in response to illegal Israeli policies and actions attended the meeting. In his address, Prince Faisal stated that the city of Jerusalem, including Al-Aqsa Mosque, continues to face persistent violations aimed at altering its historical and legal status and eroding its Arab, Islamic, and Christian identity.He reaffirmed that East Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Palestine, emphasizing that all unilateral measures—including settlement expansion, land confiscation, incursions, and attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo at the holy sites—are null and void and carry no legal validity.Prince Faisal praised the efforts of Jordan, under the leadership of King Abdullah II, in safeguarding the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and preserving their historical identity. He reiterated the Kingdom's firm rejection of any attempts to misuse the principle of freedom of worship as a pretext for imposing a new political reality or entrenching the occupation in the holy city.The foreign minister condemned the continuing Israeli military violations in the Gaza Strip, describing them as a direct challenge to the peace process and a serious impediment to efforts aimed at achieving regional stability. He called on the international community to protect the holy sites, support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, and confront hate speech, extremism, and incitement to violence.
