His Majesty King Abdullah meets with Christian leaders and figures from Jordan and Jerusalem at the Baptism Site on Sunday (Photo courtesy of Royal Court)

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah met on Sunday at the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ (Bethany beyond the Jordan) with Christian religious leaders and figures from Jordan and Jerusalem on the occasions of Christmas

and the New Year.

During the meeting, attended by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi Bin Mohammad, His Majesty’s chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs and personal envoy, King Abdullah expressed his best wishes to Christians in Jordan and Palestine, as well as to all Arab Christians, on the two occasions.

His Majesty affirmed the strong values of interfaith, harmony and brotherhood among Muslims and Christians in Jordan, which is a model of harmony and coexistence.

For their part, the attendees, as they took the podium, expressed appreciation for His Majesty’s efforts to defend Jerusalem and support the steadfastness of Jerusalemites, noting the King’s status as Custodian of Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites.

The meeting also symbolised solidarity with Jerusalem and Jerusalemites — Muslims and Christians — after the churches of the holy city, Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Jordan decided to turn their season celebrations into expressions of solidarity with Jerusalem, in rejection of the United States’ decision to recognise the city as Israel’s capital.

At a luncheon hosted by His Majesty in honour of the attendees, the King asserted that Muslims and Christians are one family in Jordan, working for the nation’s prosperity.

The King reiterated his support for the perseverance of churches in the holy land and their efforts to preserve their holy sites and property.

His Majesty expressed appreciation for the churches and Islamic Awqaf of Jerusalem for honouring the Pact of Omar, which established the values of coexistence and peace in the holy city, dating back to the seventh century.

The King voiced commitment to the historical duty of safeguarding holy sites in Jerusalem, a mission that dates back to the time of Sharif Hussein Bin Ali, His Majesty’s great-grandfather.

His Majesty said the US decision on Jerusalem violates international law and relevant UN resolutions, stressing that any measures that alter the legal and historical status of Jerusalem are null and void.

The right of Muslims and Christians to Jerusalem is eternal, the King reaffirmed.

They reiterated their rejection of the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, describing it as an illegal step that undermines peace and violates the teachings of Christianity.

The religious leaders expressed support for His Majesty’s recent speech at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s Extraordinary summit, and the King’s affirmation that the right of Muslims and Christians to Jerusalem is eternal.

They urged His Majesty to address the United Nations, UNESCO and various international fora on behalf of all churches.

The speakers also denounced attempts to Judaise Jerusalem and alter its Arab identity.

Prime Minister Hani Mulki, Royal Hashemite Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, Chief Islamic Justice Abdul Karim Khasawneh, Grand Mufti Mohammad Khalaileh and a number of ministers and senior officials attended the meeting.