Arab, Muslim Ministers Launch Initiative to Protect Jerusalem’s Holy Sites.

Senior Arab and Muslim foreign ministers have agreed to establish a permanent international mechanism to document and publicize alleged Israeli violations in occupied East Jerusalem and at Islamic and Christian holy sites.

The decision was announced in a joint declaration issued after a high-level meeting in Jordan on Wednesday. The initiative includes the creation of a dedicated media platform to monitor developments, document incidents affecting religious sites and worshippers, and share reports with international organizations and the global community.

The ministers, alongside representatives of the Arab League, Türkiye, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Malaysia, called for urgent international action to halt what they described as Israeli measures affecting Jerusalem and its religious landmarks.

The declaration accused Israel of pursuing policies aimed at changing Jerusalem's Arab, Islamic, and Christian identity, as well as altering the city's legal and demographic status. It also expressed concern over settlement expansion, land confiscation, and restrictions imposed on Palestinian residents.

The statement further condemned actions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, alleging repeated incursions, restrictions on Muslim worshippers, and attempts to alter the site's longstanding historical and legal status.

In addition, the ministers raised concerns over measures affecting Christian holy sites, including restrictions on access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, interference in church affairs, and reported attacks on clergy, worshippers, and religious properties.

As part of the new initiative, the participating countries plan to highlight issues such as restrictions on religious worship, activities around holy sites, and developments involving the Jerusalem Awqaf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department.

The ministers also agreed to seek a joint ministerial meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the League of Arab States during the United Nations General Assembly's high-level week in New York this September to discuss the latest developments in Jerusalem and coordinate diplomatic efforts.If you'd like, I can also rewrite this in a shorter, newspaper-style format suitable for publication or social media.

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