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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - His Majesty King Abdullah II on Tuesday reaffirmed Jordan's constant support of the churches of Jerusalem and protecting the Christian community in the Holy Land.

Welcoming a delegation of heads and representatives of churches in Jerusalem, led by Patriarch Kyrios Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City and the Rest of Jordan and Palestine, the King reiterated Jordan's firm position in defending the historical and legal status of Jerusalem, which respects coexistence and the churches' administration of their property.

During the meeting, attended by HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammed, the King's chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs and personal envoy, His Majesty pointed out that the focus on Jerusalem as an issue of interfaith dialogue, human rights or security should not be at the expense of the just requirement that East Jerusalem is the capital of the Palestinian state.

During the meeting, His Majesty congratulated the church leaders and the Christian denominations on the occasion of the Easter, which falls on April 8.

The heads and representatives of the Jerusalem churches expressed their appreciation for the King's support of the Christian community in the region, particularly in Jerusalem, which helps to strengthen their steadfastness, preserve church property and address the challenges they are facing as a result of Israeli actions.

They said they appreciated the King's efforts to reopen the Church of the Holy Sepulcher after Israel froze a decision to impose taxes on Church property, stressing that his Majesty's defense of religious freedom and the status quo in Jerusalem was necessary and important to protect the Christian presence in the city.

They also said that the Hashemite custodianship over the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem embodies the historic role of the Hashemites and King Abdullah in protecting and defending the holy sites and safeguarding the city's Arab identity.