Amman summit refocuses global attention on Jerusalem as 'Israel' rejects declaration
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'Israel's' Foreign Ministry on Wednesday strongly criticized the final communiqué issued by the Ministerial Meeting in Support of Jerusalem and Its Holy Sites, held in Amman, rejecting its conclusions as "false accusations" and "historical distortions."
The meeting, hosted by Jordan on Aug. 5, brought together foreign ministers from Arab League countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Algeria, and Palestine, alongside representatives from Türkiye, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Malaysia.
The summit concluded with a 15-point communiqué condemning 'Israeli' settlement expansion, warning against what participants described as escalating violations at Jerusalem's holy sites, and reaffirming that the entire 144-dunum Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, also known as Haram al-Sharif, is "a place of worship exclusively for Muslims" under the administration of the Jordanian-run Jerusalem Awqaf Department.
The declaration also called for the establishment of an international mechanism and media platform to document what participants described as 'Israeli' violations in Jerusalem and present them to the international community.
Responding to the communiqué, 'Israel's' Foreign Ministry rejected the statement, claiming it contained "false accusations, historical distortions, and a complete disregard for the facts."
The stsatement claimed that, under 'Israeli' administration, Jerusalem "has never been more open and accessible to worshippers of all faiths"
The ministry's claims come despite repeated criticism from Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, the United Nations, and international human rights organizations over restrictions on access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, particularly during periods of heightened tensions.
'Israeli' authorities have repeatedly imposed age restrictions, temporary closures, and limits on Palestinian worshippers entering the compound, citing security concerns.
Jordan has repeatedly condemned 'Israel' for allowing settlers and officials to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound under police protection, warning that the practice undermines the site's historical and legal status quo.
The Amman meeting reaffirmed Jordan's Hashemite Custodianship over the Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied Jerusalem and called on the international community to increase efforts to preserve the city's historical and legal status.
Arab and Islamic ministers also agreed to present the outcomes of the Amman communiqué during the high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September as part of a broader diplomatic effort focused on Jerusalem and its holy sites.
