Amman, June 2 (Petra) — The foreign ministers of Jordan, the United
Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and
Egypt condemned the continued incursions by extremist Israeli
settlers into the Al Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli
forces, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag within the
Mosque’s courtyards.

In a joint statement issued Tuesday, the ministers described the
actions as provocative and unacceptable, stressing that they
constitute a flagrant violation of international law, relevant United
Nations resolutions and the historical and legal status quo of the
holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem.

The ministers denounced what they described as ongoing violations and
systematic, illegal measures by the Israeli authorities, aimed at
altering the historical, legal and demographic character of occupied
East Jerusalem and undermining the sanctity and status of its Islamic
and Christian holy sites.

They reaffirmed their rejection of any attempts to alter the
historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites,
calling for preserving it. The statement highlighted the special role
of the Hashemite Custodianship in safeguarding the holy places.

The ministers reiterated that the entire 144-dunam area of the Al
Aqsa Mosque is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims. They
stressed that the Jerusalem Waqf and Al Aqsa Mosque Affairs
Department of Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy
Places is the sole legal authority responsible for administering the
site and regulating access to it.

The ministers held Israeli authorities responsible for ending what
they described as escalatory measures and warned that repeated
violations heighten tensions, fuel instability and extremism and
undermine international efforts to achieve peace.

They added that such actions constitute a clear breach of Israel’s
obligations under international law.

The statement called for an immediate halt to all illegal and
provocative practices and reaffirmed the need to respect the
historical and legal status quo at the Al Aqsa Mosque in its
entirety.

The ministers reiterated their unwavering solidarity with the
Palestinian people and support for their legitimate and inalienable
rights, including the right to self-determination and the
establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on
the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

They reaffirmed support for efforts to end the Israeli occupation and
achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace based on the
two-state solution, in line with international law, relevant UN
resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

//Petra// AK