His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday met with a delegation comprising Islamic and Christian figures, chairpersons of charitable societies, economists and academics from Jerusalem.

During the meeting, King Abdullah stressed that Jordan will continue to exert all possible efforts to protect the holy sites in Jerusalem and help the city's residents realise their rights and safeguard their interests.

In addition, the King said that projects to preserve the holy sites in Jerusalem will continue and grow in quality and quantity.

King Abdullah stressed the importance of maintaining coordination among all parties to protect the holy city, pointing to the coordination and cooperation between Jordan and the Palestinian National Authority in this regard.

He reiterated the Kingdom's continuing support to help the Palestinians regain their legitimate rights, especially their right to establish an independent state on Palestinian national soil with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The King added that Jerusalem is a red line for all Jordanians, saying that Jordan is ready to use all available legal and political options to protect Jerusalem against unilateral Israeli measures to change the identity of the city by emptying it from Muslim and Christian inhabitants.

In addition, the King discussed with the delegation the practical measures that should be taken to improve the living conditions of the residents of Jerusalem and to maintain their presence and identity in the holy city.

The delegates expressed their appreciation for King Abdullah's support for Jerusalem's holy sites and its people, warned that Israel was taking illegal measures to transfer Christians from the city.

Head of the Islamic Waqf Council in Jerusalem Sheikh Abed Al Azim Salhab expressed his appreciation for the King's initiatives to defend and protect Al Aqsa Mosque, commending Al Imaar Al Hashemi, the regular construction and renovation projects carried out in Jerusalem by the Hashemites of Jordan, and the quality of coordination between the technical teams of Jerusalem Construction Committee and the Ministry of Awqaf.

Salhab also gave a briefing on the Israeli attempts to hinder the work of the Ministry of Awqaf in Jerusalem, as well as the Israeli excavations that threaten Al Aqsa Mosque.

President of the Faisal Al Husseini Foundation, Abdulqader Faisal Al Husseini, acknowledged the importance of King Abdullah's initiatives to protect the Jersualem holy sites, especially Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, and said that Israeli measures have effectively divided Jerusalem and made it off limits to many Palestinians.

Munib Younan, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and Palestine, said that Arab Christians play a vital role in preserving the Arab identity of Jerusalem and called for support for educational institutions in Jerusalem.

He also stressed the importance of maintaining the national bond between Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem.