Jordan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, announced today that resumption of restoration work at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound after Israel prevented the Islamic Waqf department, a Jordanian government agency, from carrying out the renovation and restoration work on the Islamic holy place.

This announcement came during a meeting with the Palestine Committee in the Jordanian Parliament where Safadi said that "the resumption of reconstruction and restoration work at the compound came as a result of Jordanian diplomatic efforts," adding that "Jordan, under the leadership of King Abdullah II, has been and will remain the strongest supporter for the brothers in Palestine." The Minister referred to the continuous efforts made by Jordan to end the Israeli occupation and oppression, and achieve a just and comprehensive peace that will lead to the establishment of the independent and sovereign Palestinian state with occupied Jerusalem as its capital on the June 4, 1967 lines and in accordance with international law and the Arab Peace Initiative.

He said that Jordan considers the protection of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem a priority, noting that the King devotes all the Kingdom's capabilities to protect them and preserve their Arab Islamic and Christian identity.

Safadi explained that "protecting the holy sites is a continuous daily work for the kingdom," that "affirming the Hashemite guardianship role is something that everyone reiterates," and that "sovereignty over Jerusalem is Palestinian and the custody of Islamic and Christian holy sites is Hashemite, and the responsibility to protect Jerusalem and its holy sites is a Palestinian, Jordanian, Arab, Islamic, and international responsibility.

 

Source: Wafa News Agency