Jordan’s King Abdullah II yesterday urged the international community to “fulfil its responsibilities” towards Palestinians in Jerusalem and support the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
His comments, following a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, came after US President Donald Trump sparked outrage by recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and suspended funds to UNRWA.
“The international community must fulfil its responsibilities to protect the rights of Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem,” Abdullah said, according to a palace statement.
The city is “the key to achieving peace and stability in the region,” he said. East Jerusalem was under Jordanian administration before Israel occupied it during the 1967 Six-Day War.
Jordan in December called Trump’s move “a violation of decisions of international law and the United Nations charter”.
The Jordanian monarch also yesterday urged the international community to support the UN agency for Palestinians.
Earlier this month, the United States put on hold two planned payments of more than $100mn to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
The agency, set up after the 1948 creation of Israel that drove huge numbers of Palestinians from their homes, faces what the UN has described as the “most severe” crisis in its history.
Jordan’s King Abdullah meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Royal Palace in Amman, yesterday.
