Jordan will spare no political, diplomatic or legal effort in coordination with the Palestinian Authority to protect the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem from unilateral Israeli measures, His Majesty King Abdullah said on Tuesday.
The Kingdom, he said, will renovation works and maintenance at Al Haram Al Sharif mosques, courtyards, walls and affiliated schools and will work to meet the needs of the Arab residents of Jerusalem to help them overcome Israeli plans to evacuate the Holy City of Palestinians.
King Abdullah highlighted Jordan’s responsibility to protect and sustain the sacred sites and the Arab identity of Jerusalem.
The King made his remarks during a ceremony at the Royal Court, where he received an honorary doctorate in humanities from the Jerusalem-based Al Quds University.
The doctorate was granted in recognition of the King’s “courageous stand towards Jerusalem, defending the city and its sacred sites, protecting its Arab identity and fostering the steadfastness of the Jerusalemites”, according to university officials.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas presented the degree to King Abdullah in the presence of Jordanian and Palestinian officials, local universities presidents, key figures from Jerusalem and Al Quds University officials. The King said the honorary degree is a testimony to the historic role of the Hashemites in protecting Jerusalem.
The King also underlined the university’s humanitarian message and its keenness to equip the Palestinians with knowledge and know-how to cope with the occupation and attempts to spread undermine the Palestinian identity.
In his remarks at the ceremony, President Abbas voiced appreciation of the King’s support for the Palestinian cause and the special attention he devotes to Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites. This support, he said, has enabled the Jerusalemites to withstand the practices of the occupation authorities.
Abbas said Jordan is an indispensable partner to the Palestinians, as both sides have a unified stand on issues like Jerusalem, the borders, security, refugees, settlements and other final status issues. Stressing continued efforts to realise Palestinian national reconciliation, Abbas said the Palestinian Authority is looking forward to Jordan’s support to restore Palestine to the geographic map through its request for full membership at the UN and international recognition of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.
Al Quds University President Sari Nusseibeh emphasized the significance of King Abdullah's attention to education for Jerusalem residents as a means of defending their identity.
Prior to the ceremony, the King met with Abbas and discussed issues of mutual concern. King Abdullah later hosted an iftar banquet in honor of Abbas and the accompanying delegation.
His Majesty the late King Hussein laid the cornerstone of Al Quds University in 1966, when East Jerusalem was under Jordanian sovereignty. The 13-faculty university is the only Arab Palestinian higher education institution in Jerusalem.