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King Abdullah II Meets Abbas, Calls on International Community to Safeguard Palestinians’ Rights in Jerusalem

Jordan's King Abdullah II (R) welcomes Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to the Royal Palace in Amman on January 29, 2018. (AFP Photo/Khalil Mazraawi)
Jordan's King Abdullah II (R) welcomes Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to the Royal Palace in Amman on January 29, 2018. (AFP Photo/Khalil Mazraawi)
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King Abdullah II Meets Abbas, Calls on International Community to Safeguard Palestinians’ Rights in Jerusalem

Jordan's King Abdullah II (R) welcomes Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to the Royal Palace in Amman on January 29, 2018. (AFP Photo/Khalil Mazraawi)
Jordan's King Abdullah II (R) welcomes Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to the Royal Palace in Amman on January 29, 2018. (AFP Photo/Khalil Mazraawi)

Jordan King Abdullah II called on the international community “to safeguard the rights of Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims and Christians in the city of Jerusalem,” which he said was “the key to achieving peace and stability in the region.”

This was stated during the meeting of Abdullah II with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday in Amman, within continuous coordination and discussion about Palestinian cause related developments.

According to a statement issued by the Jordanian Royal Court, Abdullah II affirmed that Jordan proceeds efforts in the international community to defend the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of Palestinians in establishing their independent state according to June 4 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Discussions tackled the vital role performed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and that it is a must that the international community supports UNRWA efforts, especially that there are six million Palestinian refugees registered at the UN.

Abbas briefed the Jordanian king about his meetings with international parties to face the threats jeopardizing the Palestinian cause and Jerusalem. He expressed appreciation in his name and in the name of the Palestinians to the Jordanian stance and efforts.

Abbas arrived in Amman on Sunday in a response to the Jordanian King's invitation.

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Syria’s Reconciliation Committee Prioritizes Stability after Anger Over Prisoner Releases

Member of the High Committee for National Reconciliation Hassan Soufan and the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Facebook)
Member of the High Committee for National Reconciliation Hassan Soufan and the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Facebook)
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Syria’s Reconciliation Committee Prioritizes Stability after Anger Over Prisoner Releases

Member of the High Committee for National Reconciliation Hassan Soufan and the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Facebook)
Member of the High Committee for National Reconciliation Hassan Soufan and the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Facebook)

Syria’s High Committee for National Reconciliation has defended recent controversial prisoner releases, saying the decision aims to preserve national stability amid ongoing tensions.

Committee member Hassan Soufan confirmed that several officers recently freed had voluntarily surrendered in 2021 at the Iraqi border and in the Al-Sukhna region, under a formal request for safe conduct.

Speaking at a press conference in Damascus on Tuesday, Soufan addressed public backlash following the releases and acknowledged the deep pain felt by victims’ families.

“We fully understand the anger and grief of the families of martyrs,” he said. “But the current phase requires decisions that can help secure relative stability for the coming period.”

The controversy erupted after the Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday the release of dozens of detainees in Latakia, many of whom were arrested during the “Deterrence of Aggression” operation, which contributed to the fall of the Assad regime.

Among those involved in the mediation effort was Fadi Saqr, a former commander in the regime’s National Defense Forces, who has been accused of war crimes, including involvement in the Tadamon massacre in southern Damascus.

Soufan explained that the released officers had undergone investigation and were found not to have participated in war crimes. “Keeping them imprisoned no longer serves a national interest,” he said. “It has no legal justification.”

He stressed that Syria is in a delicate phase of national reconciliation, in which balancing justice and peace is critical.

“There are two parallel tracks - transitional justice and civil peace - and today, the priority is civil peace, as it lays the groundwork for all other strategic efforts,” he said.

Soufan added that the committee has requested expanded powers from the Syrian president, including the authority to release detainees not proven guilty and to coordinate directly with state institutions.

He insisted that the aim is not to bypass justice, but to prevent further bloodshed. “Vengeance and retribution are not paths to justice,” he said. “They allow real criminals to slip away while deepening divisions.”

While affirming that transitional justice remains essential, Soufan noted that it should focus on top perpetrators of atrocities, not individuals who merely served under the regime. “Justice means accountability for those who planned and carried out major crimes, not blanket punishment.”