His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday received a delegation from the World Council of Churches at Basman Palace.

King Abdullah affirmed that Jordan, in line with the Hashemite Custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, will continue its efforts to safeguard holy places and defend church property at various international fora.

His Majesty stressed that Jordan opposes any attempts to seize the property of Christians in East Jerusalem, asserting that Christian holy sites receive the same attention and care afforded to Islamic holy sites.

Arab Christians are an integral component of the region, and part and parcel of its identity, the King affirmed, stressing that protecting their rights is everyone’s duty.

Expressing concern over the decreasing number of Christians in Jerusalem, His Majesty said Jerusalem must always remain a symbol of hope and peace, not a symbol of division.

The King highlighted Jordan’s initiatives and interfaith conferences held to promote dialogue, understanding, tolerance, and coexistence among the followers of different faiths.

For their part, the delegates, who are visiting the Kingdom to attend the World Council of Churches’ executive committee meeting currently being held in Amman, praised Jordan’s pivotal role, led by His Majesty, to achieve peace and bolster security and stability in the region and the world.

Jordan, they added, represents a model of coexistence, commending the Kingdom’s work to promote interfaith dialogue and launch initiatives that focus on the values of tolerance and moderation.

The delegates also expressed appreciation for the King’s efforts within the Hashemite Custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, to safeguard holy places and preserve the identity of the holy city.

Royal Hashemite Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh and Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan attended the meeting.