Cairo: An Arab committee at the ministerial level has called for “restrictive and deterrent measures” in response to Israeli actions targeting holy sites in Jerusalem. The Arab Ministerial Committee on Jerusalem, which convened its 11th meeting on the sidelines of the 166th session of the Council of the League of Arab States, issued a statement emphasizing the need for international action to counter illegal Israeli measures in occupied Jerusalem.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, the meeting was chaired by Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and included participation from committee members and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States. The committee stressed the importance of diplomatic engagement with influential international parties to impose measures that could halt attacks on holy sites and settler activities. It also highlighted the need to hold Israel accountable for its violations in Jerusalem and urged for a “firm international stance” against these practices, warning of potential impacts on regional and global peace and security.
The committee welcomed Qatar’s initiative to establish a “sustainable institutional mechanism,” including a media platform to document and expose Israeli violations against holy sites and worshippers. It tasked the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, in coordination with member states, to activate this mechanism and define its operational procedures and funding sources. The committee also called for a coordinated Arab and international diplomatic and media campaign to expose Israeli violations and mobilize international pressure to stop them.
The committee reaffirmed its commitment to documenting Israeli violations in Jerusalem and emphasized the need for intensified efforts with the international community, particularly the Security Council, to support a position compelling Israel to cease its violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites. It also planned to strengthen coordination with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, including a joint ministerial meeting with the League of Arab States on Jerusalem during the UN General Assembly’s high-level week in New York.
The committee expressed strong condemnation of Israeli authorities’ plans to construct 1,234 settlement units as part of the “E1” plan, which it claimed would disrupt geographical continuity between the northern and southern West Bank and isolate East Jerusalem from its Palestinian surroundings. This plan has faced international objections due to its impact on the possibility of establishing a contiguous Palestinian state.
Additionally, the committee condemned the Israeli raid and evacuation of the Qalandia Training Center, operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), describing it as a “dangerous escalation” and a violation of international law and UN immunities. The committee also reiterated its rejection of what it termed a “systematic” Israeli campaign targeting UNRWA and its operations.
Regarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the committee condemned what it described as an “unprecedented escalation” in Israeli actions aimed at altering the existing historical and legal status quo. It reiterated the mosque’s status as a place of worship exclusively for Muslims and emphasized the importance of the historical Hashemite custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
The Arab Ministerial Committee was established in May 2021 to engage with permanent members of the Security Council and other influential countries to counter Israeli policies in occupied Jerusalem.