"Royal Committee for Jerusalem Affairs" condemns Colombia's opening of an embassy in Jerusalem
Amman3 min read
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The Secretary-General of the Royal Committee for Jerusalem Affairs, Abdullah Kanaan, expressed his condemnation and rejection of Colombia opening an embassy in the city of Jerusalem, as it represents an infringement on the legal and historical status of the Holy City, and a violation of the international community's position and international legitimacy resolutions that confirm the non-recognition of the annexation of East Jerusalem, and the necessity of preserving its legal and historical status as an integral part of the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967.
Kanaan emphasized that this step represents a departure from the international position calling for refraining from unilateral measures that would affect the final status of the city of Jerusalem, and also constitutes an infringement on the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, and an attempt to entrench a political and diplomatic reality that contradicts the provisions of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
He stressed that the city of Jerusalem is not merely a geographical location or a headquarters for diplomatic missions, but rather a city with a deeply rooted religious, historical, and civilizational status, and the Palestinian cause constitutes the core of the conflict in the region, and a just and comprehensive peace cannot be achieved without guaranteeing the rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them their right to establish their independent state on Palestinian national soil, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Kanaan pointed to the historical and pivotal role of Jordan, led by His Majesty King Abdullah II, in defending Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites, protecting its Arab identity, and safeguarding the existing historical and legal status therein.
He reiterated the importance of the Hashemite Custodianship over the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, as a deeply rooted historical and religious responsibility, and a fundamental pillar in the continuous Jordanian efforts to protect the holy sites and preserve the freedom of access to them and the practice of religious rites within them.
Kanaan valued the continuous Jordanian political, diplomatic, and legal efforts in defending Jerusalem and confronting measures aimed at changing its identity and its legal and historical status, in addition to supporting the steadfastness of the Jerusalemites and preserving the Arab, Islamic, and Christian presence in the Holy City, based on the firm Jordanian position that East Jerusalem is the capital of the independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 lines, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions.
He said that the Committee calls on the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities, take a clear position regarding steps that would affect the status of Jerusalem, adhere to relevant United Nations resolutions, and refrain from taking measures that would confer legitimacy on the occupation or change the legal and historical reality of the Holy City.
He affirmed that protecting Jerusalem and its holy sites is a shared international and humanitarian responsibility, and that any just and lasting settlement in the region cannot be achieved without respecting the rights of the Palestinian people, preserving the identity and status of Jerusalem, and safeguarding its Islamic and Christian holy sites.
