Arab committee condemns ‘unprecedented’ Israeli escalation, violations in Jerusalem

The Arab Ministerial Committee tasked with international action to counter illegal Israeli policies and measures in occupied Jerusalem held its 11th meeting on Monday at the Arab League’s General Secretariat in Cairo. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 166th Ordinary Session of the Council of the League of Arab States at the ministerial level, chaired by Jordan.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi chaired the meeting and briefed members on ongoing Israeli violations and measures in Jerusalem and its holy sites. Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Varsen Aghabekian Shahin also delivered a briefing regarding systematic policies targeting the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem, citing annexation, settlement expansion, land confiscation, and home demolitions.

In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the committee condemned unprecedented Israeli escalation and violations against Al Aqsa Mosque, including attempts to impose spatial and temporal division. The committee further denounced measures targeting Jerusalem’s historic Christian presence, escalating extremist settler violence, and new settlement plans.

The committee reaffirmed that Israel has no sovereignty over Jerusalem or its holy sites and that East Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Palestine. Members also reaffirmed the importance of the historic Hashemite Custodianship over the holy sites and the exclusive jurisdiction of the Jordan-run Jerusalem Awqaf and Aqsa Affairs Department.

The committee agreed to strengthen coordination with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to hold a joint ministerial meeting during the High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly in New York this month. Members pledged to intensify efforts to pressure the international community to require Israel to end its violations.