Press Release

While participating in the joint ministerial meeting of the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation regarding Jerusalem—held on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York—Mr. Ahmed Attaf, Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad, and African Affairs, emphasized that the status of Jerusalem is not merely an item in a political process but a matter of justice and international legitimacy. He asserted that any unilateral measures aimed at altering the city’s character, status, or demographic composition create no rights and confer no legitimacy.

The Minister of State reiterated Algeria’s insistence on preserving the historical and legal status quo of Islamic and Christian holy sites—foremost among them the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in its entirety. He called for coordinated Arab and Islamic action within the United Nations and various international forums to defend Jerusalem’s legal status, counter attempts to impose a *fait accompli*, and strengthen legal and political protection for the city's residents.

Mr. Attaf concluded his remarks by stating that protecting Jerusalem, safeguarding its holy sites, and preserving its identity remains a collective responsibility that demands a rejection of the occupation, a refusal to coexist with it, and a refusal to allow its violations to become a normalized reality.