Al-Ahliyya Amman University hosts “Jerusalem: Present and Future” seminar

Al-Ahliyya Amman University, in collaboration with the Royal Commission for Jerusalem Affairs and the General Conference of Jerusalem, organized a seminar entitled “Jerusalem: Present and Future”. The seminar addressed the substantial risks that beset the city of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque and the historical role of the Hashemite leadership in the protection of the Islamic and Christian holy sites. At the beginning of the seminar, Prof. Sadeq Hamid, President of the University, welcomed the guests and thanked them for their sincere efforts in pointing out the risks that threaten the holy city and its holy sites. Prof. Izzat Jaradat, Secretary-General of the Islamic Conference of Jerusalem, delivered a speech in which he noted that Jerusalem is one of the oldest and first cities that were known for Muslim and Christian coexistence since the Omari custody. It is further known for tolerance among monotheist religions, as it allowed the followers of those religions the freedom of worship in peace and security. Prof. Jaradat stated that the city of Jerusalem was occupied by the Franks who prosecuted its Muslim, Christian and Jew population alike and subjected them to suffering and ill-treatment. Jerusalem restored its coexistence and tolerance atmosphere following its liberation by Salah Edin, but it was occupied once again by the British Mandate Zionist under the management of the British Sir Herbert Samuel. He noted that the Arab army, based on the persistence of the founder King Abdullah I, maintained East Jerusalem, which is home to Al-Haram Al-Shareef (The Noble Sanctuary). In recognition of the status of the Holy City, the late His Majesty King Hussein issued a royal decree to consider Jerusalem as the spiritual capital of Jordan. There are close bonds between the religious sense of the Hashemites, Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque, as there are a number of established positive circumstances. Prof. Jaradat confirmed in this seminar several concepts about guardianship and custody of Al-Aqsa Mosque. He stated that King Abdullah II is the international reference for the protection of Al-Aqsa Mosque. King Abdullah II is concerned with maintaining it as pure Islamic escape that is visited by all Muslims around the world for worship in a safe atmosphere commensurate with the spiritualism that dominates it. Prof. Jaradat also addressed the sovereign, international, economic, social, cultural and educational dimension. He added that the Hashemite custody of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy places is well-timed, as the Zionist occupation started hinting at dividing Al-Aqsa Mosque in terms of time and space, while the Arab world is in a deep slumber. He called the Arab and Islamic regimes to realize the critical current events and take them seriously. At the conclusion of his speech, Prof. Jaradat saluted the Palestinian people in admiration and esteem for their opposition to the occupation forces and Zionist arrogance in an effort to protect and defend Al-Aqsa Mosque. Mr. Abdullah Kanaan, Secretary General of the Royal Commission for Jerusalem Affairs, delivered a speech in the seminar. He thanked the presidency of the University for hosting this seminar at the time when Jerusalem is exposed to imminent danger. Mr. Kanaan pointed to the procedures adopted by the Israeli occupation authorities since the 1967 war for expansion of settlements, demolition of houses, expulsion of the Palestinian people, and closure of Arab institutions, not to mention the serious dangers that threaten Al-Aqsa Mosque as a result of the excavation of tunnels. Many historical and religious monuments and sites have been robbed and vandalized, while some parts of the Mosque have collapsed. Mr. Kanaan referred to the recent Israeli attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque and repeated intrusions on a daily basis under guard by the Israeli police. During these raids, the Zionists are trying to show that they are the rightful owners of the place and create a new reality. They tour the mosque, perform their rituals and raise slogans demanding the expulsion of Arabs and Muslims. They also demand the Israeli authorities and the Israeli Knesset to have access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, perform their prayers in it freely, prevent Muslims from entering the Mosque, and divide it temporally and spatially between Jews and Muslims as a prelude to fully lay their hands on Al-Aqsa Mosque, as they did in the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. They call for the need to set up their alleged temple in place of Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Israeli Knesset members call for removing the Hashemite custody of the holy places, especially in East Jerusalem. The Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem, which is affiliated to Jordan Ministry of Awqaf, is in charge of maintaining these holy places, he noted.He noted that the Israeli occupation authorities attempt, through their media outlets, to tarnish the image of Al-Aqsa Mosque by focusing on only one part of Al-Aqsa Mosque, such as Al-Qibali Mosque alone. They intentionally conceal the full picture of the mosque, which includes various landmarks, to promote to the public opinion that this is the entire space of Al-Aqsa Mosque and give the impression to the foreign audience, when they attack any other part of the mosque that is not displayed in the picture, that they did not infringe on Al-Aqsa Mosque. Mr. Kanaan called on young people to upgrade the nation, because they are the basis of the nation and leaders of liberation. He praised the great efforts exerted by His Majesty King Abdullah II to defend the Islamic and Christian sanctities from the dangers of the systematic Judaization by the Israeli occupation authorities, as well as to support the steadfastness of its people and preserve their rights until a radical and viable solution is found for the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 1967 territories with its capital in East Jerusalem. A photo exhibition was hosted on the sidelines of the seminar, which featured a collection of photos of the city of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque. A play was also performed, which addressed the suffering of the Palestinian people who are holding steadfastly to their land and the repression and torture they are exposed to by the Israeli occupation authorities. At the end of this seminar, the President of the University, Prof. Sadeq Hamid, presented commemorative shields to the guests participating in the seminar and the play.