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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said Tuesday Jordan would support Palestinian efforts to declare Jerusalem as the 2019 Capital of Islamic Culture and Bethlehem as the 2020 Arab Cultural capital.

Ensour made the pledge as he welcomed Palestinian Culture Minister Ehab Bsiso, who briefed him on his ministry's bid, and stressed the need for an Arab "umbrella" in that endeavour, particularly by Jordan, where the holy city enjoys a special status.

"These two projects would help to highlight the Palestinian cause and the steadfastness of its people", Bsiso said, emphasising Palestinian efforts to declare the biblical city of Bethlehem, which is a symbol of Christian-Islamic coexistence, as a world heritage site.

He said he hoped that the declaration of Bethlehem as Arab cultural capital would break the city's isolation due to the economic hardship it lives, noting that the city only witnesses a boom during the Christmas and Easter holidays.

Ensour pledges Jordan's support to the Palestinians "in this important bid", adding that "the success of this event is a success for a goal we all aspire to achieve, supporting the Palestinian people".

Also at the meeting, attended by Culture Minister Lana Mamkegh, the prime minister noted Jordan's support for the Palestinian cause at the various regional and international forums, particularly for Jerusalem, pointing to the Hashemite custody of holy sites in the city.

He said the Hashemite custodianship is "only to safeguard Islamic and Christian sanctuaries in Jerusalem, and stressed that "Jerusalem's soil and heritage are for the Palestinians".