Israeli violations in Jerusalem contradict World Cities Day —Kanaan

AMMAN — Secretary General of the Royal Committee for Jerusalem Affairs Abdullah Kanaan on Sunday said that Israeli violations in the occupied city of Jerusalem contradict the spirit of World Cities Day, which is celebrated annually on October 31, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The Israeli occupation’s systematic policy to destroy Palestinian lands is in full opposition to rights guaranteed by laws, morals, humanitarian laws and international treaties, he said. 

Kanaan added that the brutal occupation policy symbolises the very opposite of values embodied in the concept of civilisation. 

The committee reaffirms the support of the Jordanian people and leadership to Palestinians and the city of Jerusalem, as part of the Hashemite custodianship of the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, he noted. 

Kanaan called for next celebration of World Cities Day to focus on spreading awareness about the tragedy of Palestinians, including the suffering of Jerusalemites.

He highlighted the necessity of obligating Israel to end the occupation of Palestine and Jerusalem and adhere to international treaties, agreements and resolutions of international legitimacy, including the two-state solution and the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on the June 4, 1967 lines.

World Cities Day falls on October 31 of every year, as designated by the UN General Assembly in 2014 to “promote the international community’s interest in global urbanisation, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities addressing challenges of urbanisation and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world.”