The Arab ministerial committee condemned the Israeli attacks and violations against worshipers in the al-Aqsa Mosque, warning that they fuel the violence that threatens regional and global security and stability.
The Arab ministerial committee in charge of international action to confront illegal Israeli policies and measures in Jerusalem held an urgent meeting in Amman.
The meeting was attended by Tunisia, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Qatar, Egypt, Morocco, the UAE, and the Secretary-General of the Arab League.
It addressed confronting the dangerous Israeli escalation against al-Aqsa Mosque/al-Haram al-Sharif, establishing joint action to stop the Israeli attacks and violations of the holy sites, end violence, and restore calm.
The committee warned that these assaults are a "blatant provocation to the feelings of Muslims," undermining the right to the freedom of worship and worshippers' right to freely access the holy site, fueling violence, and threatening global and regional security and stability.
"Israel has to respect al-Haram al-Sharif's historical and legal status quo," the committee said.
It asserted that any visits by non-Muslims shall be organized by the Jordan-run Jerusalem Awqaf and Aqsa Affairs Department, the "only authority" to supervise the holy site's affairs and manage entries.
The Arab Committee called on the international community and the Security Council to take immediate and effective action and assume their responsibilities in maintaining international peace and security, notably in implementing UN Resolutions related to East Jerusalem.
The committee's final statement emphasized the importance of the Hashemite Custodianship over Jerusalem's Islamic and Christian sites, stressing the necessity to ease all obstacles that hinder the operations of the Jordan-run Jerusalem Awqaf and Aqsa Affairs Department, meant to protect Al Aqsa Mosque's facilities.
The committee also expressed its full support for the Palestinian people, their leadership, and their institutions, mainly their legitimate rights to freedom and statehood along the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the two-state solution.
The committee called on Israel to stop escalatory practices and attacks in all occupied Palestinian territories, relax the blockade on the Gaza Strip, and halt all actions that threaten security and peace, undermine the two-state solution and the opportunities of reaching a just and comprehensive peace.
After the meeting, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, who chaired the meeting, held a press conference. He stressed that it is crucial to respect al-Aqsa Mosque/al-Haram al-Sharif's historical and legal status quo.
"The upcoming ten days are critical. We wish that non-Muslims will not be allowed to Al Aqsa Mosque, a step on the right track towards respecting the legal and historical status quo along the year," added Safadi.
During the press conference, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said that Israel is violating its duties as an occupying power according to international law, the right of the Palestinian to access holy places, the Palestinian's right to worship, and the existing legal and historical status in Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Palestinian minister stressed that the Hashemite custodianship of the holy sites protected Al-Aqsa for several years, highlighting the highest Jordanian-Palestinian coordination
