Jordanian King: Jerusalem Dispute Should be Resolved within Framework of a Final Settlement

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi speaks during a joint news conference with Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit in Amman, Jordan January 6, 2018. (Reuters)
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi speaks during a joint news conference with Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit in Amman, Jordan January 6, 2018. (Reuters)
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Jordanian King: Jerusalem Dispute Should be Resolved within Framework of a Final Settlement

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi speaks during a joint news conference with Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit in Amman, Jordan January 6, 2018. (Reuters)
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi speaks during a joint news conference with Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit in Amman, Jordan January 6, 2018. (Reuters)

Arab foreign ministers held a meeting in Jordan to follow up on the repercussions of US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move US embassy to the city.

Jordanian authorities confirmed after the talks the centrality of Jerusalem as a fundamental issue for Arabs and both Muslims and Christians, and that it is the key to peace in the region.

On Saturday, King of Jordan Abdullah II received at al-Husseiniyeh Palace foreign ministers of Egypt Sameh Shoukri, Palestine Riyad al-Malki, Saudi Arabia Adel al-Jubeir and Morocco Nasser Bourita, as well as UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Anwar Gargash, and Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit, according to the Petra News Agency.

King Abdullah underlined the need to increase efforts and coordinate Arab positions to support the Palestinians in safeguarding their solid historic and legal rights in the city of Jerusalem and their quest to set up their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The King added that the issue of Jerusalem should be settled within the framework of a final settlement and a permanent peace agreement between Palestinians and Israelis based on the two-state solution and according to international legitimacy resolutions and the 2002 Arab Peace initiative.

He emphasized the importance of supporting the steadfastness of Jerusalemites and safeguarding the Arab identity of Jerusalem and Islamic and Christian holy sites in the city, and the need to build on the international consensus regarding the legal status of Jerusalem, reported Petra.

The King reiterated that Jordan will exert the greatest efforts to uphold its religious and historic responsibility to protect the holy places.

Later, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi held a joint press conference with Abul Gheit during which he said that the ministers are working on forming a delegation to work with the international community to limit the negative consequences of the US Jerusalem move, and highlight its dangers given the national, historical and religious importance of Jerusalem to Muslims and Christians.

Safadi indicated: "Our position as an Arab League and Arab countries regarding this resolution is clear, that it constitutes a violation of international law and legitimacy and has no legal effect. Arab countries will work in this regard. This is a clear and unanimous stance for Arab states that Jerusalem is an Arab, Islamic and Christian priority, and this is the aim of the meeting today and we came to study how to implement the mandate."

King Abdullah emphasized on the centrality of Jerusalem as a fundamental issue for Arabs, Muslims and Christians, and that it is the key to peace in the region, he continued.

There will be no stability and security in the region without a solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on pre-June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, added the minister.

“We will confront the decision by seeking a (UN) resolution, an international one, to recognize a Palestinian state on 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital,” said Safadi according to Agence France Presse.

For his part, Abul Gheit said that the purpose of Saturday’s meeting was very helpful and another one will be held at the end of this month.

He stressed that the ministerial meeting would also discuss Washington’s role in future Arab-Israeli peacemaking that members states said was now jeopardized by what they see as US bias towards Israel.



Israeli Military Says it Struck 'Key' Hamas Figure in Lebanon's Tripoli

People gather near a damaged car after the Israeli military said in a statement that it struck a "key" figure from Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Ayrounieh, northern Lebanon July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Walid Saleh
People gather near a damaged car after the Israeli military said in a statement that it struck a "key" figure from Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Ayrounieh, northern Lebanon July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Walid Saleh
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Israeli Military Says it Struck 'Key' Hamas Figure in Lebanon's Tripoli

People gather near a damaged car after the Israeli military said in a statement that it struck a "key" figure from Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Ayrounieh, northern Lebanon July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Walid Saleh
People gather near a damaged car after the Israeli military said in a statement that it struck a "key" figure from Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Ayrounieh, northern Lebanon July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Walid Saleh

The Israeli military said on Tuesday it had struck "key" figure from Palestinian militant group Hamas near the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, the first targeted killing in the area for several months.

In a statement, Israel's military did not give the identity of the targeted person. There was no immediate comment from Hamas.

Lebanese state media said a car had been hit near Tripoli and the health ministry reported two people were killed and three others wounded, without identifying them, Reuters reported.

Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups maintain a presence in various areas of Lebanon, mostly in camps that have housed displaced Palestinians for decades.

Since Hamas' cross-border attack from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel in 2023, Israel has carried out targeted strikes on Lebanese armed group Hezbollah as well as members of Palestinian factions in Lebanon.

Hamas' deputy chief was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs in early 2024, and other strikes hit Palestinian camps in northern Lebanon.

A US-brokered ceasefire last year ended the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, though Israel has continued to carry out strikes on what it says are Hezbollah arms depots and fighters, mostly in southern Lebanon.

Tuesday's strike near Tripoli was the first time a targeted assassination had taken place in the area since the truce.

Meanwhile, US envoy Thomas Barrack continued a two-day visit to Lebanon to discuss disarming Hezbollah and other militant groups.