New Aqsa council gives Palestinians greater control in Jerusalem
Jerusalemites have publicly welcomed the new Islamic Waqf Council as a leadership vehicle that will allow them to forge ahead with a clear and implementable strategy for Jerusalem and its holy places.
After years of being relegated to the sidelines for worry of angering the Israelis, a newly appointed Jordanian Islamic Waqf (Endowment) Council has roared to life, proclaiming a new era in Palestinian-Israeli politics in the holy city of Jerusalem.
More than 1,000 waqf employees in Jerusalem are part of the Jordanian Ministry of Waqf, but until recently Jordan has shied away from taking any proactive role in Jerusalem.
The new two-year council was announced by the reinstated chairman of the council, Sheikh Abdel Azeem Salhab, Feb. 14 in Jerusalem. Salhab stated in press reports that the Jordanian Cabinet approved the new council.
Wasfi Kailani, director of the Royal Hashemite Fund for the Restoration of Al-Aqsa and a key Jordanian official dealing with Jerusalem affairs, told Al-Monitor that the goals of the newly appointed Islamic Waqf Council is to support Jerusalemites and their steadfastness t p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times; color: #101010; -webkit-text-stroke: #101010} span.s1 {font-kerning: none} hrough their solidarity with the custodianship mechanisms.
