 |
|
 |
 |
The Holy City of Jerusalem Hashemite Guardianship of the Holy Sites As for Jerusalem, we have declared our position more than once, in that the land of Jerusalem occupied in 1967 is Arab land subject to the terms of reference for peace, based on the land-for-peace formula. . . . In view of the special status of the Islamic sites in Jerusalem, and because of Israel's unilateral and illegal decision to annex Jerusalem, we have included, in Article Nine of the Jordanian-Israeli Peace treaty, a clause that commits Israel to respect the present special role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in the Holy Shrines in Jerusalem. Therefore, Jordan's historic role will be given priority during final status negotiations. This clause does not in any way infringe upon the right of our (Palestinian) brethren to establish their own state, with its capital in Jerusalem. Nor does it mean that Jordan wishes to impose on Islamic, Arab and Palestinian rights in the Holy City. Our role therefore is one of support for and assistance to our Palestinian brethren, just as much as we have a constructive role in achieving the peace of the believers, one that is honorable, just and lasting, God willing. Letter to Prime Minister Abdel Salaam
al-Majali
I hereby declare, in clear terms, that we, as Hashemites and Jordanians, hold these Shrines in trust. We saved them with the blood of our sons in the 1948 War, and undertook three phases of their restoration in the name of the Ummah. It is a trust we still preserve, take care of and protect and we will execute our duties in the name of the Ummah until the status of the Shrines is addressed, in an appropriate and acceptable manner. As such, we acknowledge no sovereignty over these Shrines, save that of Almighty God. We do not belittle the right of our Palestinian Arab brothers toward these Shrines. We support their right and the right of the whole of Islamic Ummah to the custody of our Holy Shrines. Address to the Seventh Organization of the
Islamic Conference Summit
To us, the Hashemites, Jerusalem has been an eternal trust (of religious tolerance we cherish) under al-'Uhdah al-Umariya (Caliph Umar's Covenant), consecrated by Jordanian blood and a symbol of Arab and Muslim struggle. Thus, our association with Jerusalem stands above the fray of political ploys and earthly greed since it has been anchored in faith, prophethood, history and martyrdom. We shall keep our pledge and we shall defend the nation's rights to Jerusalem. Nor shall we spare any effort to ensure the restoration of its Arab and Islamic character in accordance with international law. It is our duty to ensure that all holy places in Jerusalem will be subject exclusively to divine sovereignty while in the name of God, the Almighty, the whole Muslim Ummah will exercise religious jurisdiction in a manner to be determined by consensus. Address on the Occasion of the Unveiling
of the Restored Dome of the Rock
We will continue to warn against and resist all attempts at tampering with our Islamic holy shrines, especially at the first Qiblah cum the third holy mosque, and generally throughout the Islamic world. We shall oppose any change in the physical features of these shrines that might be effected under false pretexts of repair, expansion or renovation or under any other smokescreen. For such attempts might strip the nation of its historical legacy to safeguard and maintain them. Our opposition to such endeavors will be mounted on behalf of and in coordination with the entire Islamic Ummah with a view to ensuring the preservation of its sacred common heritage. I must underscore that the appropriate channels for the repair of our holy shrines in Jerusalem are well established. Namely, the competent agencies in charge of those holy places, i.e. the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and the Commission on the Renovation of al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Holy Rock. In point of fact, these two institutions have been fulfilling their mandates without any interruption for many decades. Address on the Occasion of the Unveiling
of the Restored Dome of the Rock
With regard to the Islamic Holy Places of Jerusalem in particular, our position remains unchanged. We continue to look after them and we are committed to their restoration and to the Jerusalem Waqfs. We did not, nor will we ever, recognize any sovereignty over them except by Almighty God . . . . Address to the Nation
This Hashemite leadership hopes for its call to be heard—that the trust remain as a badge of honor and that it be given real support to that end . . . . It has the honor to invite the Arab and Muslim nation to establish a venerable, non-political religious body, representing the five Islamic sects, to look after the affairs of the Muslim Holy Places. We shall be honored to give such a body our total and unstinting support—in the cause of establishing the unity of our nation—to be the best "so as to be the best of peoples, evolved for mankind." Address to the Nation
Pursuant to this position, we shall continue to shoulder our responsibilities towards our nation's Holy Places in Jerusalem until a final and comprehensive peace is achieved. A peace that would restore the rights to their owners in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy. What we harbor in our conscience towards the Holy Places in Jerusalem and Hebron is as eternal as the positions taken by al-Hussein bin Ali and is as present as the hallowed blood of Abdullah bin al-Hussein shed at the entrance of al-Aqsa mosque. Address to the Nation |
 |
 |
 |
