AMMAN — Minister of Culture Mustafa Rawashdeh and his Palestinian counterpart Imad Al Din Hamdan on Sunday stressed the “deep-rooted historical and cultural” bonds between the Jordanian and Palestinian peoples.

 

During a meeting at the Royal Cultural Centre in Amman, Rawashdeh referred to the ongoing international efforts led by His Majesty King Abdullah in support of the Palestinian cause, particularly in seeking an end to the Israeli aggression on Gaza.

 

He stressed the cultural unity between the two nations, noting that Palestine is “always a central focus” in Jordan’s cultural festivals, conferences, exhibitions and artistic events.

 

The minister highlighted Jordan’s continuous support for the resilience of the Palestinian people, adding that the ministry is ready to extend all possible assistance to help preserve Palestinian cultural identity and counter Israeli attempts to erase it.

 

Hamdan highlighted the shared cultural roots and daily practices that unite the two peoples.

 

He expressed deep appreciation for King Abdullah’s custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and praised Jordan’s leadership for its unwavering support of the Palestinian cause, particularly its humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza.

 

The Palestinian minister described the situation in Gaza and the West Bank as not only a humanitarian catastrophe but also a cultural genocide.

 

He referred to the loss and displacement of numerous Palestinian writers, poets, artists, and filmmakers due to the war, and said the Palestinian Ministry of Culture is working to establish a comprehensive cultural database to help preserve national heritage.

 

Speaking on the challenges facing Palestinian cultural institutions, Hamdan cited the Israeli-imposed blockade and the division of the West Bank as major obstacles, severely limiting the ability to organise cultural events.

 

He added that economic restrictions have further diminished cultural activity, with attendance at events dropping to just 25 per cent of previous levels.

 

As for cooperation in documentation and archive, Hamdan said that the National Library of Palestine operates independently from the Ministry of Culture but serves as a key safeguard for Palestinian cultural records, expressing hope for continued collaboration with Jordan in archiving and documentation.

 

Hamdan proposed organising an Arab and international cultural conference in Amman, focusing on Palestine and Gaza from a cultural perspective.

 

Secretary-General of the Ministry of Culture Nidal Ayasrah highlighted an existing memorandum of understanding between Jordan and Palestine, which includes training Palestinian staff in copyright law, archiving, and documentation through Jordan’s National Library.

 

Ayasrah also referenced historical documents preserved in Jordan that detail the Hashemite restoration efforts of Al Aqsa Mosque, dating back to the reign of King Abdullah I.

 

He underscored the cooperation between the National Library and the Royal Committee for Jerusalem Affairs in safeguarding Palestinian cultural heritage.

 

He also noted that the Amman International Book Fair has consistently carried the slogan “Jerusalem is the Capital of Palestine,” and that many cultural events supported by the ministry have addressed Israeli crimes in Gaza, including attacks on civilians and the destruction of Palestinian archives.