The Compass – The Secretary General of the Royal Jordanian Commission for Jerusalem Affairs, Abdullah Kanaan, called on the international community to take effective action towards the Palestinians, similar to their stances towards the Ukrainians in light of the Russian war, criticizing the “double standards” phenomenon.

This came in an interview conducted by the Anadolu Agency correspondent with Kanaan in his office at the headquarters of the committee (in the capital, Amman), which is a governmental body established in 1971 and reconstituted in 1994.

Kanaan addressed the main concerns of his country regarding Jerusalem, saying, “The reality of the Israeli occupation of the city of Jerusalem, which is rejected historically, legitimately and legally, and under which our people have been living for decades, is a dangerous matter in this era in which the slogans of human rights, freedom and justice are raised.”

He continued: “The logical result of such a reality is to raise legitimate fears and a state of Jordanian, Arab, Islamic and free international anxiety, especially what we and the whole world are observing in terms of the current, systematic Israeli colonial aggressions and violations on a daily basis (..), especially the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Resurrection.”

He added that these attacks and violations “are all crimes that the world has the right to describe as brutal, as they affect people, trees, and the land, and Israel aims through this policy to Judaize the entire city of Jerusalem, impose one fabricated Zionist identity, and erase the Arab identity that has its roots in the city of Jerusalem going back more than five thousand years.” .

The Palestinians adhere to East Jerusalem as the capital of their aspired state, based on the resolutions of international legitimacy that do not recognize Israel’s occupation of the city in 1967, nor its annexation in 1981 to the western part, and their declaration as its unified capital.

And Kaanan added: “Israel, the occupying power, is based on the implementation of a plan that seeks, in an accelerated manner and within the claim of the so-called Jewish state, to make complete and unified Jerusalem the alleged capital of Israel, in a manner that explicitly violates the historical and legal facts, international law, international conventions and treaties, and threatens the historical status quo, which Throughout the history of the city, he provided freedom of worship.”

He continued: “Therefore, the concern stems from the Israeli colonial behavior that threatens civilized values ​​and imposes a moral, humanitarian and political crisis in the region that would destabilize security and peace, spread hatred and evil, and lead the region to a religious war with which Arabs and Muslims will only find a way to struggle and defend their existence and their Islamic and Christian sanctities.”

** Top priority

Regarding Jordan’s mechanism to restore the momentum of the Palestinian cause, Kanaan explained that “Jordanian diplomacy and politics, under direct royal directives, proceed in its international efforts in accordance with its constants towards the Palestinian cause and seek to implement them with all the competent authorities.”

And he cited the speech of King Abdullah II of Jordan during the opening of the second session of Parliament, on November 13, when he said: “(Jordan’s role) will remain focused on defending the Palestinian cause, which we have been and are and will remain on our positions in support of it, and it is our top priority and there is no way to bypass it. Except for a just and comprehensive solution that begins with the end of the Israeli occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Jordan retained its right to supervise religious affairs in Jerusalem under the Wadi Araba peace agreement it signed with Israel in 1994.
In March 2013, King Abdullah and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed an agreement giving the kingdom the right to “guardianship and defense of Jerusalem and the sanctities” in Palestine.

** International positions

When asked about the Kingdom’s view of international positions on Israeli violations of Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, Kanaan replied that “the general rule of international diplomatic relations is national and regional interests, and on this basis countries adopt their programs and agendas that are evident in the roles they play or the positions they disclose.” proces”.

And he continued: “Therefore, given the historical and ideological Arab and Islamic relations towards occupied Palestine, including Jerusalem, in addition to the fact that these countries constitute a national and national dimension and part of their security, they reject the Israeli occupation and look forward to achieving a just peace based on historical and legitimate facts.”

The Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations have stalled since April 2014 for several reasons, including Tel Aviv’s refusal to stop settlement activity and release old detainees, in addition to its disavowal of the principle of the two-state solution.

With regard to international positions such as the United Nations and its affiliated bodies, Kanaan said that it “has issued hundreds of resolutions on the Palestinian cause condemning the Israeli occupation, settlements and racism.”

And he believed that “the international will still does not find a mechanism to implement its decisions against Israel, including the activation of Article VII of the Charter of the United Nations, which stipulates taking a number of measures to achieve international peace and security, and it is unfortunate that this will exists and is effective today in the Ukrainian-Russian conflict, Let us live in practice the phenomenon of double standards.

Since last March 24, Russia has launched a military attack in its neighbor Ukraine, which prompted many capitals, led by Washington, to impose severe economic and diplomatic sanctions on Moscow and support Kyiv with various and extensive aid.

Kanaan stressed that “the Israeli occupation and its violations against our people in Palestine, its incursions into the cities of Jerusalem, Nablus, and Hebron, its siege of the Gaza Strip, its fierce bombing, and the attack on the media that transmits news and facts, an example of which is the assassination of journalist Sherine Abu Aqleh (last May 11) and in front of the eyes of the world, calls for a stance Internationally, it bypasses inactive decisions, statements and protests that do not prevent the bombing of defenseless children, women and the elderly in Palestine.

** Arabic coordination

With regard to the level of Jordanian-Arab coordination, Kanaan affirmed that “the kingdom, people and leadership, are an integral part of the Arab and Islamic nations, believing that Arab and Islamic security are one and aware that the Zionist threat threatens the nation and its wealth.”

And he continued: “Therefore, comprehensive coordination is an important path towards the hoped-for unity and a way to unite efforts in facing dangers and challenges, foremost of which is the Israeli occupation of historical Palestine. Hence Jordan’s permanent presence at the highest levels in Arab meetings and gatherings, but what is required today is to work on implementing decisions and recommendations.” Arab meetings.

**Continuous pressure

In response to a question about what is required internationally regarding the Palestinian cause and whether there is collusion with Israel, Kanaan replied that “as long as Palestine and Jerusalem are occupied and its people are subjected to daily crimes, there are many international duties and actions required to lift the injustice and stop the occupation and crimes against defenseless civilians in occupied Palestine, including Jerusalem”.

And he continued: “There is an urgent need for the world to continue its pressure on Israel and immediately stop the policy of double standards and not to take provocative measures by some world powers that will only complicate the situation, such as the statements of some countries that they will move their embassies to Jerusalem; Such statements biased towards Israel will increase its arrogance and disregard international resolutions and legitimacy.”

Kanaan asked: “All countries of the world have recognized the two-state solution (Palestinian and Israeli) and affirmed that it is the only way to peace, so what prevents them from demanding its implementation (?) and how long will Israel remain above the law (?) and how long will it remain without international sanctions, similar to countries that violate legitimacy and consensus international law, including United Nations resolutions (?).

** Possible escalation

Kanaan did not rule out further escalation in the Palestinian territories, stressing that “as long as the occupation persists in crimes and attacks, the escalation will continue and be multiplied by international silence and the failure to take concrete steps to oblige Israel to implement the resolutions of international legitimacy and the victory and rise of the extreme right-wing Israeli political parties (in the first elections). since last November) all of which are a dangerous indication that conditions will get more difficult for our people in Palestine and Jerusalem.”

He called for “a real international will that supports international legitimacy and Palestinian and Arab unity,” stressing that it is “the way to stop Israeli violations and aggressions.”

And he added, “Israel and those who support it must be aware that peace will not be achieved through extremism, Judaization, Israeliization, settlement and incursions, especially in light of the global state of discontent with Israeli politics, including the opinion of some Israeli politicians, thinkers and some left-wing parties who see the Israeli right as behavior that threatens the future.” Israel itself.”

Kanaan concluded by inviting the Arab, Islamic and international media to “clarify the reality of the occupation and its crimes in Palestine and Jerusalem, in all languages, so that the world knows that we are facing a model of apartheid (apartheid) and racism that cannot be silenced in a world that claims freedom, peace and democracy.”