Acting to save East Jerusalem

The Senate wants Arab, Muslim and international parliamentary unions to hold an emergency meeting on East Jerusalem, in general, and on the recent wave of Israeli attacks on the Muslim sites in the Haram Al Sharif compound, in particular.

The Upper House of Parliament also wants the UN system to take immediate action against the grave Israeli violations of the sanctity of the Islamic holy sites in East Jerusalem.

The senators’ concern about the recent, serious, provocative Israeli actions in the Haram Al Sharif compound is justified. It, after all, echoes the worries of all Jordanians, and of the entire Muslim world.

Still, calling for such emergency meetings would not amount to much unless that is coupled with real action by Arab governments, first.

Regional and world countries would want to see what the Arab states are doing to put an end to the Israeli violations before deciding to make a move of their own.

If Israeli threats continue, or assume even more ominous proportions, convening an emergency Arab summit would be in order, and that is where the attention of our politicians — senators, parliamentarians, political groups — should be directed.

Arab summits used to be held when similar Israeli attacks on the holy places in East Jerusalem took place.

Today’s violations are even more serious, extremist Jews on a messianic mission are more aggressive, Al Aqsa is being desecrated.

Isn’t this a good reason for the Arab states to meet and issue some statement of condemnation, at least?

Asking the world to intervene should be an act of last resort. But shouldn’t the Arabs put their house in order first?

The increasingly brazen Jewish acts in Al Aqsa, their incessant search for a millennia-old temple that might be under layers of history at this holy Muslim compound, the entire apartheid policy of Israel vis-à-vis Palestinians deserve censure and swift action.

From the Arabs first, from the world at large next.

Jerusalem, this eternal city, is a symbol for all humanity. It is not a real estate piece that Israel wishes to “develop” for more benefit.

The world needs to make Israel understand this, if it does not already know.