Saudi rejects undermining of Jerusalem’s historic status

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, met with Saudi FM Al-Jubeir, on 20 Decmber 2017 in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir yesterday expressed his country’s rejection of any change to Jerusalem’s historical status while also voicing support for UNRWA, the UN’s embattled Palestinian refugee agency.

Addressing Arab foreign ministers at the Cairo-based Arab League, Al-Jubeir said that the Palestinian cause remained at the top of the kingdom’s priorities.

The Saudi FM went on to stress his country’s ongoing support for UNRWA, along with international efforts to save the agency from its chronic funding shortfalls.

READ: Trump’s Administration will fail to break the Palestinians

On 31 August, Washington cut all its funding for UNRWA as part of a broader policy by the US of limiting aid to Palestinian institutions.

The US had been UNRWA’s largest contributor, providing it with $350 million annually – roughly one quarter of the agency’s overall budget.

Later this month, donor countries plan to meet in New York to discuss the cash-strapped agency’s future.

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