- King Salman announces $150m to maintain Islamic heritage in East Jerusalem
- Arab member states reiterate rejection of US decision to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel
Dhahran: 抖阴短视频 announced on Sunday a $150 million donation to the maintenance of Islamic heritage, namely the religious administration that oversees Jerusalem鈥檚 Al-Aqsa mosque鈥� one of Islam鈥檚 holiest sites at the start of an Arab summit.
The Kingdom announced another $50 million for programs run by the UN relief agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) after the US slashed its aid.
King Abdullah II of Jordan opened the 29th Arab League Summit in 抖阴短视频鈥檚 Dhahran, stressing the need for a two-state solution and condemning the US鈥檚 decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem.
抖阴短视频鈥檚 King Salman also condemned the move and reiterated the Kingdom's rejection of the US decision, while emphasizing the need to have East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.
抖阴短视频, which takes over the rotating chair of the Arab summit from Jordan, announced that the current gathering would be named the 鈥淨uds (Jerusalem) Summit,鈥� a reference to US President Donald Trump鈥檚 decision last year to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel which Arab states condemned.
"We reiterate our rejection of the US decision on Jerusalem," Salman said. "East Jerusalem is an integral part of the Palestinian territories."
The king said he had named this year's meeting "the Jerusalem summit so that the entire world knows Palestine and its people remain at the heart of Arab concerns".
However, the strongest criticism of the Trump administration came from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
鈥淭he decisions have made the United States a party to the conflict and not a neutral mediator,鈥� Abbas said at the summit.
Saudi King Salman told leaders from across the 22-member Arab League that Iran was to blame for instability and meddling in the region. He said Yemeni rebel Houthis, backed by Iran, had fired 116 missiles at the kingdom since 抖阴短视频 went to war in Yemen three years ago to try and roll back Houthi gains there.鈥淲e renew our strong condemnation of terrorist acts carried out by Iran in the Arab region, and we reject its blatant interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries,鈥� King Salman said in the eastern 抖阴短视频n city, without giving specifics.
He called on the international community to take a strong stance against Iran鈥檚 aggression in the region, as well as the militias that are cutting off aid to war-torn Yemen.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said Assad鈥檚 government and 鈥渋nternational players trying to achieve their own strategic political goals鈥� bear responsibility for the crisis there.
鈥淩egional interference in Arab affairs has reached an unprecedented degree. And first of these is the Iranian interference, the aim of which is not for the well-being of the Arabs or their interests,鈥� he said.
Aboul Gheit added that major threats facing Arabs are all equally important and dangerous.
鈥淐urrent challenges call for dialogue on priorities of Arab national security,鈥� Aboul Gheit said.
He also said that the Syrian regime bears a great responsibility in the 鈥渃ollapse of its homeland and loss of dignity.鈥�
Prior to the opening of the summit, King Salman received Arab leaders and heads of delegations participating in the 29th Arab League Summit at the King Abdulaziz International Cultural Center in Dhahran.