Top Arab and Muslim Diplomats Launch Plan to Protect Jerusalem Religious Sites

Arab and Muslim foreign ministers have agreed to create a permanent mechanism to document and expose Israeli violations in occupied East Jerusalem and at its Islamic and Christian holy sites. The initiative was announced during a meeting in Jordan, where participants included members of the Arab ministerial committee on Jerusalem and representatives from Turkiye, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

The joint declaration calls for immediate international action to halt Israeli measures in Jerusalem and at its holy sites. It condemns Israeli policies aimed at altering Jerusalem’s Arab, Islamic, and Christian identity, as well as its legal and demographic status, labeling them illegal. The statement highlights the escalating danger to Jerusalem’s religious sanctuaries, emphasizing the threat to their Islamic and Christian character.

Participants denounced Israeli actions at religious sites, including attempts to alter their historical and legal status quo and impose temporal and spatial divisions. The declaration specifically criticized the systematic and unprecedented assaults on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, describing them as efforts to undermine its Islamic identity and change the historical and legal status quo.

The proposed mechanism aims to raise global awareness of increased incursions by Israeli settlers and officials, restrictions on worshippers, interference in the work of the Jerusalem Awqaf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, and continued excavations around the site. These actions are seen as part of a broader effort to alter the religious and cultural landscape of Jerusalem.

The declaration also condemned Israeli violations targeting Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, including restrictions on access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, interference in church affairs, and attacks on clergy, worshippers, and religious symbols. These actions are viewed as part of a pattern of undermining the Christian presence and identity in the city.

The initiative reflects a growing concern among Arab and Muslim leaders about the preservation of religious heritage and the protection of worshippers in Jerusalem. The call for international attention underscores the perceived urgency of addressing these issues and safeguarding the city’s diverse religious and cultural identity.

Source: Read the original report