King reiterates Jordan’s commitment to defending Palestinians’ rights

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday sent a letter to the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People Cheikh Niang, on the 75th anniversary of the Nakbeh, the displacement of the Palestinian people, which falls on May 15.

In the letter, King Abdullah reiterated the centrality of the Palestinian cause, and Jordan’s commitment to continuing its efforts to defend the rights of Palestinians, and highlight the difficulties facing them to the international community, especially amidst multiple crises around the world, said a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty stressed that resolving the Palestinian issue is key to peace and stability in the Middle East, with international repercussions that cannot be overlooked, calling on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities toward creating political horizons to relaunch serious and effective negotiations that lead to a just and comprehensive solution.

The King said all peoples have the right to self-determination, noting that after over half a century after the Nakbeh, the Palestinians’ right to self-determination and establishing an independent, sovereign, and viable state on the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, on the basis of the two-state solution, living side-by-side with Israel, cannot be overlooked.

His Majesty added that Jordan will continue to coordinate with Arab leaders and international partners to push towards the two-state solution, and to demand and end to all unilateral Israeli measures and violations that undermine peace prospects.

The King said Jordan is committed to maintaining coordination with the Palestinian Authority to preserve the historical and legal status quo in holy sites, under the Hashemite Custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy places in Jerusalem.

The region cannot reach peace, prosperity, and growth, without including the Palestinians in regional economic projects, His Majesty noted.

The King urged the international community to maintain support for UNRWA, in accordance with its UN mandate, to sustain its role in providing education and healthcare services for Palestinian refugees, especially children and youth, until a just and comprehensive solution is reached, in accordance with international law, particularly UN resolution 194, to guarantee refugees’ right to return and compensation.

His Majesty concluded the letter by stressing the centrality of the Palestinian cause, and its everlasting presence in the hearts of Arabs, commending the efforts of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.