Jordan King, Palestinian President sign deal to ‘defend’ 'Occupied Jerusale

[DV RULES]

Jordan’s King Abdullah and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed on Sunday an agreement confirming their “common goal to defending” occupied Jerusalem and its sacred sites against Israeli attempts to Judaise the city.

A statement by the palace said the deal confirms Jordan’s historic role as custodian of Muslim holy sites in occupied Jerusalem, particularly the Al Aqsa mosque compound, and outlines coordination between the two sides.

“In this historic agreement, Abbas reiterated that the king is the custodian of holy sites in Jerusalem and that he has the right to exert all legal efforts to preserve them, especially Al Aqsa mosque,” the statement said.

“It is also emphasising the historical principles agreed by Jordan and Palestine to exert joint efforts to protect the city and holy sites from Israeli judaisation attempts.”

Israel has been occupying East Jerusalem since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. It has annexed the city and regards it as its “united capital”, a move not recognised internationaly.


Jordan King, Palestinian President sign deal to

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Hashemite Restorations of the Islamic Holy Places in Jerusalem


The Hashemite clan ruled over parts of the Hijaz region of Arabia from 967 CE to 1925 CE in unbroken succession. Moreover, the late King Hussein’s branch of the Hashemite family ruled the holy city of Mecca from 1201 CE until 1925 CE. The history of Hashemite leadership in the Arab and Islamic world finds Jordan's current monarch, King Abdullah bin Al-Hussein, at the head of a family which represents over a thousand years of rule in the region, and with a long history as guardian of the Islamic faith and the holy city of al-Quds al-Sharif (or Jerusalem).




In the center of the Old City of Arab East Jerusalem sits a sprawling compound known as al-Haram al-Sharif (The Noble Sanctuary). The compound, which contains two mosques, many shrines and public fountains, as well as the tombs of Muslim saints, is so holy and dear to Muslims that in the advent of Islam the faithful turned towards Jerusalem, and not, as they later did and continue to do so today, towards Mecca. Al-Haram al-Sharif is described as the first qibla (direction to which Muslims turn in prayer), and the third holiest shrine after Mecca and Medina.


At the visual center of the area lies the golden Dome of the Rock which was completed in 691 CE by Caliph ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan. The Dome of the Rock was built to commemorate the Prophet Muhammad’s famous night journey (al-Isra’ waal mi’raj). In the year 620 CE he was transported from Mecca to Jerusalem in a mystical flight, and from the rock around which the shrine was later built, he ascended to heaven. Today Muslims celebrate this annually during al-Isra’ waal mi’raj, which this year will be on November 16th.

The second mosque in al-Haram al-Sharif, at the end of a walkway connecting it to the Dome of the Rock, is al-Aqsa Mosque, or “The Farthest Mosque.” It is so named in reference to the Qur’anic verse citing Jerusalem as “The far distant place of worship.” Al-Aqsa Mosque was completed in the year 715 CE, and is distinguished by its silver dome, slightly lower in height than the Dome of the Rock.


The First Hashemite Restoration, 1922-1924

Zionist claims to al-Quds (Jerusalem) at the beginning of the 20th century proved a threat to the city, which is sacred to all members of the three great monotheistic religions. Al-Haram al-Sharif, the primary symbol of the Arab presence in and right to Jerusalem, became a symbolic rallying point of Arab unity. In 1922, a non-governmental Islamic organization, the Islamic Higher Council (IHC) was established to preserve Islamic ideals and sanctuaries alike. The IHC was the institution which took responsibility for raising capital to restore the Dome of the Rock. In harmony with his religious responsibility, Sharif Hussein contributed generously to the restoration and took personal interest in its administration. This first Hashemite restoration was completed in 1924. Sharif Hussein’s tomb is located in the southern corridors of the mosque.


The Contributions of King Abdullah

Sharif Hussein’s son Abdullah, the first ruler and king of Transjordan, took up the responsibilities of his father. During the 1948 war, al-Haram al-Sharif suffered considerable damage. It was King Abdullah who sounded the call for the restoration of Zakaria’s mihrab, as well as the reconstruction of the surrounding buildings which had suffered structural damage. In 1949, King Abdullah personally helped to extinguish a fire which almost destroyed the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, located next to al-Haram al-Sharif. He held the role of guardian throughout his reign, maintaining and repairing the holy sites of Jerusalem from the 1920s until the time of his martyrdom in al-Aqsa Mosque during Friday prayers on June 20, 1951.


The Second Hashemite Restoration, 1952-1964

On May 8, 1952, six days after the coronation of the young King Hussein, the Jordanian government again took action towards restoring the Dome of the Rock. The 1920s restoration, a replacement of the outer wooden dome with an aluminum, gold-coated dome, was unsuccessful in stopping water leakage into the interior. The dome was also losing its exterior golden luster. The new king made the maintenance of this symbol of Islamic pride among his primary responsibilities.

In 1959, the second restoration commenced, funded by Jordan (JD 60,000) with some support from other Islamic countries (JD 86,000). The second restoration was completed on August 6, 1964.


The Emergency Restoration, 1969

Salah Eddin’s minbar, in al-Aqsa Mosque suffered great damage when it was set on fire on August 21, 1969, by an Australian Jew, Dennis Rohan. The restoration of this minbar (a stepped platform for preaching brought from Aleppo to Jerusalem by the legendary Muslim leader Salah Eddin, who liberated the city from the Crusaders in 1187 CE) cost the Jordanian treasury JD 6 million (US$ 9 million). Fortunately, the restoration team was able to salvage the original minbar and eradicate 95% of the damage.


Abdullah bin al-Hussein

(translated from Arabic)
Amman on: 11 Thul Hijja 1364
Corresponding to: 16 November 1945

Presidency of the Arab League - Cairo

The best way to save Palestine and maintain it as an Arab country or to save the remaining part of Palestine is through concentration of efforts on the following:

First: Strengthening of the Palestine Nation’s Fund and making it capable of maintaining the lands of the Arabs in the hands of Arabs through buying the land put for sale for urgent conditions and through restoration of lands in need for so.

Second: Taking the necessary arrangements for the entry of Arab immigrants into Palestine on a monthly basis and in numbers equal to the Jewish immigrants, and not to rely on the possibility of persuading the Western democracies; particularly after the recent resolutions.

This is an urgent action. The Arab nation is wailing the urgent magnanimity of the Arab States and there is no time to waste, otherwise the Jews will be able to buy new lands and push new immigrants to Palestine.

This, in my point of view, is the effective step, and after that there is no harm in having the publicity offices and political expectations.

CC: Transjordan’s representative in Cairo.


The Third Hashemite Restoration, 1992-1994

By the late 1980s, the dome was again beginning to dull in brightness, and damage resulting from regional violence could be seen in both the interior and exterior. King Hussein again initiated actions towards preserving the holy sites. Under his instruction, Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf commissioned the Irish construction firm Mivan for the unprecedented job of guilding the dome with 5000 glittering new gold plates, as well as rebuilding the roof supports, repairing the basic structure of the building and fireproofing the compound. Special attention was also paid to the restoration of the Salah Eddin’s minbar and to the selection of the materials, which most closely resembled those innitially used. The late King Hussein spent more than US$ 8 million of his personal wealth to finance the project, which was widely acclaimed as one of the most ambitious religious restoration jobs in history.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

King Abdullah II and Jerusalem


The Christian and Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem remain of great interest to His Majesty King Abdullah II, as a continuation of the royal commitment to care for these holy sites. The Hashemite Fund for the Reconstruction of the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock was established under a law issued in 2007 (after amending the Law of the Reconstruction of the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock No. 32 of 1954). This fund is supervised by a board of trustees chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi Bin Mohammad.

A previous committee, formed under the 1954 law, had given great attention to the Al Aqsa Mosque, including all mosques, domes, maharib and other cultural sites. The committee worked continuously on the maintenance and restoration of these sites, removed the effects of the fire, which had damaged more than one third of the mosque, and undertook reconstruction of the first Dome of the Rock Mosque, dating from 691 AD.

Other Jerusalem restorations

Projects for the care and reconstruction of holy sites in Jerusalem in the era of King Abdullah include: the rebuilding of the Minbar of Salaheddin and its installation in Al Aqsa Mosque; the restoration of the southern and eastern walls of Al Aqsa Mosque; and another 11 restoration and maintenance projects on the various facilities and sections of Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.

Studies were completed for six other projects, related to the installation of sophisticated systems for lighting, sound, mechanical and sanitary works and for the fifth minaret of Al Aqsa Mosque on the eastern wall.

Saving the Minbar of Salaheddin…and more

For centuries, the Hashemites have been the recipients of a special trust, as custodians of Islam's sacred places in the city of Jerusalem. When His Majesty King Abdullah II inherited this responsibility from his father, it came with a challenge that had baffled scholars for more than thirty years: how to reconstruct the great Minbar of Salaheddin, at Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

The minbar, a decorated pulpit from which the imam delivered sermons, was considered a great artwork from the height of the Islamic empire. During the 12th century, when Jerusalem was still under Crusader occupation, the Muslim leader of Aleppo, Nureddin Zengi, called upon the finest craftsmen in the state to construct a spectacular minbar for the Al Aqsa Mosque. It symbolised the grandeur of the Islamic civilization, its devotion to God, and its hope of regaining sovereignty in its third holiest city.

In 1187, Nureddin's successor, the great Salaheddin Al Ayyubi, reconquered Jerusalem. He installed Nureddin's minbar in Al Aqsa Mosque where it remained for nearly 800 years.

In 1969, a firebomb was planted in Al Aqsa by a radical Zionist. The fire nearly destroyed the building and it reduced to ashes one of the Muslim world's great treasures. His Majesty the late King Hussein Bin Talal of Jordan pledged to rebuild the minbar – a task that would prove much more challenging than anticipated.

Little remained of the original, and no detailed records had been made of its construction, dimensions, materials or interior structure. Fragments of charred wood, antique paintings and black-and-white photographs were the only guides available to the committee established to oversee the task. Even the knowledge of how to design and build the minbar's intricate panels seemed lost, a relic of the distant past.

Rebuilding the minbar became more than just a test of skill – it became part of a major effort to safeguard the rapidly vanishing cultural heritage of the Islamic world.

When King Abdullah II ascended to the throne of Jordan, he and his religious affairs adviser, His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi Bin Mohammad, renewed their efforts to find someone who could replicate what was known of the minbar's design.

They found Minwer Meheid, a young man from a bedouin family in Saudi Arabia, with degrees in engineering and architecture. Although he had no formal artistic training, Islamic geometry had been a personal interest, part of Meheid’s own quest to understand the history of Islam. Using the traditional geometric principles he had learned from books, Meheid resolved the question of how to reproduce the complex inlaid patterns of the minbar's surface with absolute precision. Based on these initial sketches, Meheid was appointed to lead the reconstruction project.

More months of study followed, as Meheid travelled the Islamic world, searching for other ancient minbars from which he could learn how the Islamic master craftsmen actually constructed their works. The oldest minbars, he learned, were built on a lattice of tightly fitted wooden pieces, held together by precisely carved mortise and tenon joints – without a single nail or drop of glue.

By the time he finished his plans, Meheid had produced close to 1,400 architectural drawings for the minbar, detailing the exact dimensions of more than 60,000 wooden pieces.

With the backing of the Hashemites, a workshop was created in the city of Salt, and some of the finest woodworkers from the Islamic world were brought to complete the new minbar, an exact copy of the one that had been destroyed. Even with a team of a dozen people, it took nearly four full years to construct it. When it was finally finished and moved to Jerusalem on 2 February 2007, it fit in the spot of the original minbar to the centimetre.

Today, the Salt workshop is the nucleus of the new Institute of Traditional Islamic Art and Architecture, headed by Meheid, whose designs for the minbar led him to be awarded a doctorate from the most prestigious academy of traditional art in the world, the Prince's School for Traditional Arts in London.

The task of understanding and preserving the arts of the Islamic civilisation, many of which have been neglected for years, remains huge. The restoration of the Minbar of Salaheddin is one of several significant restoration and preservation efforts that Jordan's monarchs have championed over the last several decades, and that have put Jordan at the forefront of Islamic scholarship and cultural preservation today.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

By this, Jordan has the legal right to defend Al-Aqssa mosque as it's legally and officially it's custodian.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Jordan, Palestine sign ‘historic’ agreement to protect Al Aqsa:

AMMAN — Jordan and Palestine on Sunday signed an agreement under which the Palestinian side “reaffirmed” the status of His Majesty King Abdullah as the custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem.

His Majesty and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed the “historic” agreement, which, according to a Royal Court statement, will help Jordan and Palestine exert all efforts to protect Jerusalem and its holy sites from “Israeli escalatory Judaisation measures” and aims at protecting hundreds of waqf properties that are endowed to Al Aqsa Mosque.

Under the deal, King Abdullah enjoys the “full right to exert all legal efforts to safeguard and preserve [Jerusalem’s holy sites], especially Al Aqsa Mosque, defined as the entire Al Haram Al Sharif compound (or the noble sanctuary whose area is estimated at 144 dunums).

The agreement “also reaffirms the historic principles upon which Jordan and Palestine are in agreement as regards Jerusalem and their common goal of defending Jerusalem together, especially at such a critical time, when the city is facing dramatic challenges and daily illegal changes to its authenticity and original identity”.

The two sides also reasserted the status of East Jerusalem as a “Palestinian sovereign occupied territory, and that all post-1967 occupation practices or aggressions against Jerusalem are not recognised by any international or legal entity”.

In remarks to the press after the signing ceremony, President Abbas said the agreement only reaffirms a “reality that has been there since 1924”.

Present at the ceremony were Crown Prince Hussein, along with Their Royal Highnesses Prince Feisal, Prince Ali and Prince Ghazi, who is the King’s adviser for religious and cultural affairs and personal envoy.

It was also attended by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, Senate President Taher Masri and Lower House Speaker Saad Hayel Srour, along with Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, King’s Office Director Imad Fakhoury, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Mohammad Qudah.

From the Palestinian side, Awqaf Minister Mahmoud Habbash and Palestinian Ambassador in Amman Atallah Khairi were also present.

Following is the full text of the agreement:

Agreement between His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, the Custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem, and His Excellency Dr Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine, Head of Palestinian Liberation Organisation, and President of the Palestinian National Authority

Glory to Him Who carried His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to Al Masjid Al Aqsa, the environs of which We have blessed, that We might show him of our signs! Indeed He is the Hearing, the Seeing. (The Holy Koran, Al Isra’, 17:1)

Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in His cause in a row as though they are a [single] structure joined firmly. (The Holy Koran, Al Saff, 61:4)

This agreement has been made by and between:

His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem,

And:

His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, in his capacity as President of the State of Palestine, and Head of The Palestine Liberation Organisation, the representative of the Palestinian people, and President of the Palestinian National Authority,

Preamble

A. Recalling the indissoluble bond between all members of the Arab and Muslim Umma;

B. Recalling the special status of Jerusalem as a holy and sacred city in Islam, and recalling present and eternal association of the holy sites with Muslims of all lands and all ages; and bearing in mind the significance of Jerusalem to those of other faiths;

C. Recalling the unique religious importance, to all Muslims, of Al Masjid Al Aqsa with its 144 dunums, which include the Qibli Mosque of Al Aqsa, the Mosque of the Dome of the Rock and all its mosques, buildings, walls, courtyards, attached areas over and beneath the ground and the Waqf properties tied-up to Al Masjid Al Aqsa, to its environs or to its pilgrims (hereinafter referred to as “Al Haram Al Sharif”

D. Recalling the role of King Al Sharif Hussein Bin Ali in protecting, and taking care of the holy sites in Jerusalem and in the restoration of the holy sites since 1924; recalling the uninterrupted continuity of this role by His Majesty King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, who is a descendant of Al Sharif Hussein Bin Ali; recalling that the Bay’ah (oath of allegiance) according to which Al Sharif Hussein Bin Ali held the custodianship of the Jerusalem holy sites, which custodianship was affirmed to Al Sharif Hussein Bin Ali by the people of Jerusalem and Palestine on March 11, 1924; and recalling that the Custodianship of the holy sites of Jerusalem has devolved to His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein; including that which encompasses the “Rum” (Greek) Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem that is governed by the Jordanian Law No. 27 of the year 1958;

E. The continuity of Hashemite King of Jordan’s custodianship of the holy sites since 1924 makes His Majesty more able to maintain the holy sites and to preserve Al Masjid Al Aqsa (Al Haram Al Sharif);

F. Recognising that the Palestine Liberation Organisation is the sole legitimate and legal representative of the Palestinian people and;

G. Recognising that the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people is expressed in realising the State of Palestine whose territory encompasses the land within which Al Masjid Al Aqsa (Al Haram Al Sharif) is situated;

H. Recalling the terms of the official statement by His Majesty King Hussein Bin Talal, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem, concerning Jordan’s qualified disengagement from the West Bank, made on 31 July, 1988; the statement excluded the Jerusalem holy sites;

I. Recalling the terms of the official statement by the Jordanian Government on its role in Jerusalem, made on 28 July, 1994, reaffirming Jordan’s invariable position and historic, exclusive role over the holy sites;

Intending to establish legal obligations and to affirm their recognition of the legal status of the parties set out in this agreement, the parties to this agreement have agreed and declare as follows:

ARTICLE 1:

The “Preamble” to this agreement shall be an integral part of this agreement and is to be read and construed with it as a whole.

ARTICLE 2:

2.1. His Majesty King Abdullah II, as the custodian of the Jerusalem holy sites, exerts all possible efforts to preserve the Jerusalem holy sites, especially Al Haram Al Sharif, which is defined in item (c) in the Preamble to this agreement, and to represent their interests so as to:

A. assert the respect for the Jerusalem holy sites;

B. affirm that all Muslims, now and forever, may travel to and from the Islamic holy sites and worship there, in conformance with freedom of worship;

C. to administer the Islamic holy sites and to maintain them so as to (i) respect and preserve their religious status and significance; (ii) reaffirm the proper identity and sacred character of the holy sites; and (iii) respect and preserve their historical, cultural and artistic significance and their physical fabric;

D. to represent the interests of the holy sites in relevant international forums and competent international organisations through feasible legal means;

E. to oversee and manage the institution of Waqf in Jerusalem and its properties in accordance with the laws of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

2.2. The King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem, will continue to endeavour to procure that the duties referred to in Article 2.1. here be fulfilled.

2.3. The Palestine Liberation Organisation and the Palestinian National Authority recognise the role of the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan set out in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Article 2 and undertake to respect it.

ARTICLE 3:

3.1. The Government of the State of Palestine, as the expression of the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people, shall have the right to exercise sovereignty over all parts of its territory, including Jerusalem.

3.2. The King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Palestinian President will consult and coordinate with each other concerning the holy sites when necessary.

Done at the Royal Palace in Amman on Sunday, March 31, 2013 on Jumada I 19, 1434 Hijri.

 

[haviZsultan]

Mahmoud Abbas has no authority at all to sign such a deal. Jeruslem is completely controlled by Israel. I don't see how this man thinks he can really achieve something through these deals. Jordan is close to Israel and their prospects of going to war seem zero

 

[Beerbal]

Has this show got any meaning?? Hope some Jew member tell us better.

 

[Sinnerman108]

@BLACKEAGLE

Hashemite Restorations of the Islamic Holy Places in Jerusalem


The Hashemite clan ruled over parts of the Hijaz region of Arabia from 967 CE to 1925 CE in unbroken succession. Moreover, the late King Hussein’s branch of the Hashemite family ruled the holy city of Mecca from 1201 CE until 1925 CE. The history of Hashemite leadership in the Arab and Islamic world finds Jordan's current monarch, King Abdullah bin Al-Hussein, at the head of a family which represents over a thousand years of rule in the region, and with a long history as guardian of the Islamic faith and the holy city of al-Quds al-Sharif (or Jerusalem).

Source: http://www.defence.pk/forums/middle...l-defend-occupied-jerusale.html#ixzz2PDACUrsB

da Fuq man !

NO tribes, NO nothing. forget it already !

The Muslims get together to do what they need to do for a long long time.

Even a letter more than MUSLIM is not acceptable.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

@BLACKEAGLE



da Fuq man !

NO tribes, NO nothing. forget it already !

The Muslims get together to do what they need to do for a long long time.

Even a letter more than MUSLIM is not acceptable.

The problem is that Muslims have never done anything, not expecting much from them to be honest with you, lip service as always.

 

[ManuZ]

Is this some kind of joke....
Jerusalem is being controlled by Israel...
Whats the point of any such deals....
Anybody with a much better understanding of this explain it???

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Mahmoud Abbas has no authority at all to sign such a deal. Jeruslem is completely controlled by Israel. I don't see how this man thinks he can really achieve something through these deals. Jordan is close to Israel and their prospects of going to war seem zero

Al-Aqssa mosque is under Jordanian administration not Israel as per the peace treaty. Defending Al-Aqssa doesn't necessarily mean war, Jordan has connections and much better relations with regional and world countries than the Palestinian authority, yet it can pressure Israel diplomatically and politically. However, King Abdullah said that Al-Aqssa mosque is a red line. War is possible in case Israel does sth stupid like demolishing it.

 

[Sinnerman108]

The problem is that Muslims have never done anything, not expecting much from them to be honest with you, lip service as always.

That is NOT correct.

If you think what the Muslims have done is bad, than tribal history is worse.

I don't want to debate. I know one thing Very soon We will have to come together to do our jobs as Muslims.

Allah will make the way easier.

 

[mohsen]

for Jordan stop supporting Israel is enough, we spare you from defending anything.
also your try to show this English kingdom as hashemit is pathetic.

 

[Hussein]

Al-Aqssa mosque is under Jordanian administration not Israel as per the peace treaty. Defending Al-Aqssa doesn't necessarily mean war, Jordan has connections and much better relations with regional and world countries than the Palestinian authority, yet it can pressure Israel diplomatically and politically. However, King Abdullah said that Al-Aqssa mosque is a red line. War is possible in case Israel does sth stupid like demolishing it.

wise words

 

[Fireurimagination]

Wow it's a first, two parties signing a deal about something that they neither of them have