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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - His Majesty King Abdullah II on Wednesday, received His Beatitude Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine and Jordan.

The meeting focused on efforts exerted by His Majesty to preserve Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem as well as violations against church properties in the occupied lands.

During the meeting at Al Husseiniya Palace, which was attended by HRH Prince Ghazi, the King’s personal envoy and adviser for religious and cultural affairs, His Majesty stressed Jordan's keenness on Palestinian unity to confront challenges facing Palestinians in Jerusalem and the occupied lands due to the Israeli occupation. "Christian holy sites receive the same attention and care just like Muslim holy sites," the King added.

King Abdullah voiced Jordan's rejection of any threats to the historical status quo in Jerusalem that respects peaceful co-existence and the churches' management of their properties.

"Jordan, as part of the Hashemite custodianship of the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, will continue its efforts to preserve these sites and defend the properties of churches at all international forums and UNESCO sessions," he said.

"Any attempt to confiscate the properties of Christians in East Jerusalem in null and void and should be stopped," the King added.

The patriarch for his part said Jerusalemites, both Christians and Muslims, highly appreciate the Hashemite attention and care to their issue as well as the King's efforts to protect the Christian presence in Jerusalem.

He also briefed His Majesty on the objective of his expected tour to a number of world countries to call for an end to the Israeli violations in the occupied Palestinian lands.