Amman, July 25 (Petra) –Royal Commission for Jerusalem Affairs (RCJA)
“strongly” condemned the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Haram
al-Sharif compound by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar
Ben-Gvir, accompanied by groups of settlers.

The committee warned of the serious repercussions of Israel’s
escalating policies, which undermine peace prospects and push the
region toward further tension and conflict.

In a statement issued Saturday, RCJA Secretary-General Abdullah
Kanaan said Ben-Gvir and the settler groups’ incursion of the Al-Aqsa
Mosque constitutes an “unprecedented provocation of Muslim
sentiments, a blatant violation of the historical and legal status
quo, international law, and relevant UN resolutions, and an
unacceptable attempt to impose new realities by force of occupation.”

He added that these practices represent a dangerous escalation that
undermines any chance of achieving peace and sends a clear message
that the Israeli government has chosen the path of extremism and
provocation instead of dialogue.

He said true belivers in peace do not storm places of worship, nor
desecrate holy sites, or provoke sentiments of over two billion
Muslims worldwide.

More than two decades ago, he noted the Arabs presented the Arab
Peace Initiative as a “historic” opportunity to achieve a just and
comprehensive peace that guarantees security and stability for all
the peoples of the region.

However, he said successive Israeli governments have rejected the
pan-Arab plan and continued their policies of occupation, settlement
expansion, and imposing a fait accompli.

He stated these practices confirm that the current Israeli government
rejects peace and pushes the region toward further tension and
conflict.

The committee affirmed the sole way to achieve security, stability
and lasting peace is made by end the occupation and enabling the
Palestinian people to obtain their full legitimate rights, mainly
establishment of their independent and sovereign state with East
Jerusalem as its capital.

Inn this context, the RCJA referred to action to protect the Islamic
and Christian holy sites, and respect the historical Hashemite
custodianship over the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem,
as the safety valve for preserving the Arab, Islamic and Christian
identity of the city, and safeguarding the existing historical and
legal status.

//Petra// AG