Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah participated on Wednesday in the Ministerial Meeting in Support of Jerusalem and its Holy Sites, hosted by Jordan.
During the meeting, Prince Faisal delivered a speech in which he expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s appreciation to Jordan for convening and hosting the important gathering. He also commended Jordan’s historic role in safeguarding the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and preserving the city’s historical identity.
Prince Faisal reaffirmed the Kingdom’s position that East Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Palestine, stressing that all unilateral measures, including settlement activities and land confiscation, are null and void and cannot create any legal rights or alter the city’s legal status.
He reiterated the Kingdom’s rejection of all violations aimed at changing Jerusalem’s legal and historical status or altering its Islamic and Christian identity and character. He also rejected any attempts to misuse the principle of freedom of worship to justify measures intended to entrench a new political and occupation-driven reality in the city.
The foreign minister emphasized that protecting Jerusalem is a fundamental pillar of any just peace, adding that justifying or inciting violence based on religious or ideological claims represents a dangerous deviation from the shared values of the Abrahamic faiths and is incompatible with the principles of equality and human dignity.
Prince Faisal stated: “While the Kingdom welcomed President Donald J. Trump’s announcement to move forward with the implementation of the second phase of the Comprehensive Peace Plan, we strongly condemn the Israeli military violations in the Gaza Strip, which constitute a direct challenge to the agreement, undermine the momentum it has generated, and serve the agenda of those seeking to obstruct and derail the peace process.”
He renewed the Kingdom’s call on the international community to assume its responsibilities by taking practical steps to halt violations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, protect the holy sites, support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, reject hate speech and religious and racial supremacist rhetoric, hold accountable all forms of incitement that fuel violence and settler terrorism, and put an end to practices that undermine the prospects for coexistence and peace.
Prince Faisal also reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to working with its regional partners and the international community, including through the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, which launched the Interfaith Dialogue Track as part of implementing the Comprehensive Peace Plan.
He underscored the Kingdom’s belief that fostering mutual respect and coexistence among followers of the three Abrahamic religions is a cornerstone for supporting political efforts and achieving lasting peace.
Concluding his remarks, Prince Faisal said that Jerusalem, toward which the hearts of millions of followers of the Abrahamic faiths turn, must remain a city of peace and coexistence and a symbol of humanity’s shared values, rather than a battleground or a place where faits accomplis are imposed.
He stressed that safeguarding the city and preserving its historical and legal status are essential to achieving a just and lasting peace and building a future of security, stability, and prosperity for all the peoples of the region.
