Jordan to chair Arab Ministerial Committee on countering illegal Israeli measures

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Tuesday participated in the first meeting of the Arab Ministerial Committee concerned with taking steps to stop the illegal Israeli measures in occupied Jerusalem.

The committee, which includes Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Qatar, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and the Arab League's secretary general, emanated from the decision of the Arab Ministerial Council issued in the council’s emergency session on May 11, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

During the meeting, the ministers elected Jordan to chair the Arab Ministerial Committee, which aims to coordinate efforts to stop the Israeli attacks and provocative steps to push for respecting the legal and historical status quo in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites.

The ministers stressed the importance of the role of the Hashemite Custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem in protecting these sites, the historical and legal status quo, and their Arab, Islamic and Christian identity.

A statement was issued by the ministerial committee headed by Minister Safadi, indicating that international action and communication were discussed to stop the illegal Israeli measures aimed to alter the Arab, Islamic and Christian identity of occupied Jerusalem and the legal and historical status quo in the holy city, and undermine the two-state solution and the chances of achieving a comprehensive and just peace in the region.