Arab League, Muslim states condemn Israeli policies on occupied Jerusalem

AMMAN, Jordan — Ministers and officials meeting in Amman to support Jerusalem and its holy sites condemned Israeli policies aimed at altering the Arab-Islamic and Christian character of the occupied city. In a closing statement, the participants described such measures as lacking legal validity and violating international law. The gathering reiterated that East Jerusalem, based on its 1967 borders, is the capital of an independent Palestinian state and reaffirmed the two-state solution as the only path to peace. The communiqué also condemned raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, provocative visits by Israeli settlers and ministers, and efforts to alter the existing arrangements at the site. Participants stressed that the entirety of Al-Aqsa is a place of worship reserved for Muslims, under the exclusive authority of the Jerusalem Awqaf Administration, which is affiliated with Jordan's Ministry of Awqaf. Violations against Christian holy sites and restrictions on religious freedom in churches were also condemned. The meeting, attended by foreign ministers from Arab League member states including Iraq, alongside representatives from Turkey, Indonesia, Pakistan and Malaysia, warned that Israeli attacks could trigger a religious conflict threatening regional and international peace. The participants reaffirmed their commitment to the New York Declaration.