Arab Meeting in Amman to Counter Trump’s Decision on Jerusalem

The Arab ministerial delegation tasked with following up on the repercussions of the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city held its first meeting in Amman this Saturday (Jan.6).

The ministerial delegation, set up by the Arab League last December 17, is made up of the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to the Arab League Secretary General.

At a meeting with the Arab ministerial delegation Saturday, King Abdullah II underlined the need to ramp up efforts and coordinate Arab positions to support the Palestinians in safeguarding their solid historic and legal rights in the city of Jerusalem and their quest to set up their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, Jordanian news agency Petra reported.

The issue of Jerusalem, he stressed, should be settled within the framework of a final settlement and a permanent peace agreement between the Palestinians and Israelis based on the two-state solution and according to international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, the agency added.

King Abdallah also emphasized the importance of supporting the steadfastness of Jerusalemites and safeguarding the Arab identity of Jerusalem and Islamic and Christian holy sites in the city, and the need to build on the international consensus regarding the legal status of Jerusalem.

According to Petra, the meeting tackled the best means to counter the implications of the US decision, which contravenes international legitimacy resolutions affirming that the status of Jerusalem can only be determined through negotiations between the parties concerned.

It was also agreed that efforts should be intensified to open a political horizon towards ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on bases that meet the Palestinian people’s right to freedom and statehood with East Jerusalem as its capital.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita handed over to King Abdullah II a verbal message from King Mohammed VI.

During the audience, King Abdullah stressed the deep, historic and brotherly ties between Jordan and Morocco and his keenness to consolidate further bilateral relations in various fields.

According to Jordanian media, the message from King Mohammed VI was related to the brotherly relations between the two kingdoms and the latest developments in the region, with focus on the issue of Al-Quds, in the aftermath of Trump’s decision to recognize the holy city as the capital of Israel.

King Mohammed VI had warned that any change to Jerusalem status will fan the flames of religious and ideological conflicts.

In separate messages to the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and to President Trump, last December, the Monarch had pointed out that infringement of the internationally recognized legal and historical status of Jerusalem means one runs the risk of hurling the issue into the quagmire of religious and ideological conflict.

King Mohammed VI had also underlined that such a move “would also frustrate international efforts aimed at bringing about an atmosphere conducive to a resumption of peace negotiations,” and “would ultimately lead to increased strife and tension and undermine all opportunities for peace, not to mention fuel violence and extremism”.

With its unique religious character, historical identity and special political symbolism, the city of Jerusalem “should remain a land as well as a symbol of coexistence and tolerance among all people”, he had insisted in his message to President Trump.