Leaders from 14 Arab and predominantly Muslim countries have denounced this Wednesday in Amman, the capital of Jordan, the policies and actions of Israel aimed at "altering the Arab, Muslim, and Christian identity" of East Jerusalem, especially in the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, as well as consolidating its "occupation" of this city and the rest of Palestinian territory.
The foreign ministers of Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Palestine, Egypt, and Morocco, along with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and delegates from Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Malaysia, have gathered in the Jordanian capital, where they have rejected these policies that they consider "a flagrant violation of international law and Israel's obligations as an occupying power."
In a joint statement issued at the end of the meeting, the participants have also condemned "all Israeli violations" in the Al Aqsa Mosque, particularly the "increasingly frequent incursions" of settlers, ministers, and official figures, "facilitated and protected by the authorities."
They have also denounced the "provocative practices and incendiary statements," the obstacles to the access of worshippers to the site, and the "continuous illegal excavations" beneath the mosque and in its surroundings, an accusation that they extend to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the rest of "Christian holy sites."
The 14 countries and the League of Arab States have committed to "provide all kinds of assistance" to strengthen Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem and have reminded Israel that this city "is the capital of the State of Palestine." "Israel has no sovereignty over it," they emphasized in a note in which they uphold the two-state solution as "the only way to achieve a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace."
Consequently, they have called on the entire international community and the UN Security Council to "act immediately to put an end to all illegitimate measures by Israel in occupied Jerusalem and its holy sites, which are intensifying within the framework of a systematic Israeli policy aimed at consolidating the occupation (...) through the expansion of settlements, the annexation of land, the suffocation of the Palestinian economy, attacks against Palestinian national institutions, the escalation of settler terrorism, and attacks against UNRWA."
Likewise, they have agreed to promote a "joint action to mobilize an effective international response" to curb these "illegitimate" policies and actions of Israel that "exacerbate tension" and force this country to respect "the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites."
Among the planned measures is the calling of a "ministerial" meeting of the members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States during the high-level week of the UN General Assembly, which will be held in September in New York, in order to "address the "dangerous Israeli escalation in Jerusalem and its holy sites, as well as ways to confront it."
For its part, the Israeli Foreign Ministry has rejected the accusations and stated that they are based on "false accusations, historical distortions, and a total disregard for the facts."
"It is particularly cynical to accuse Israel of violating freedom of worship while declaring that the entire Temple Mount is a place of exclusive worship for Muslims, ignoring the historical connection of the Jewish people to Jerusalem and its most sacred sites," the ministry led by Gideon Saar has pointed out on its social media.
Furthermore, Israel has maintained that Jerusalem "has never been more open and accessible to worshippers of all faiths" than under its sovereignty, and has defended that the Israeli authorities "maintain their commitment to preserving freedom of worship, maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount, and taking all necessary measures to ensure public order and the safety of all visitors."