Bakr lauded the king’s role in Hashemite custodianship over Jerusalem’s holy sites AMMAN: Fayez Basbous, chairman of the Palestine Committee in Jordan’s Lower House, reaffirmed King Abdullah’s commitment to reviving solidarity with the Palestinian cause, Jordan News Agency reported. The statement was made during the committee’s meeting on Sunday with Dr. Ahmed Bakr, secretary-general of the Union of Arab Academics. Basbous stressed the need to support the Palestinian people in securing their rights, and urged the union to continue its role in raising awareness of the Palestinian cause. Bakr lauded the king’s role in Hashemite custodianship over Jerusalem’s holy sites. Citing Israeli government attacks against the Palestinian people, Bakr emphasized the mounting pressures on Jordan to defend the Palestinian cause. The union is hosting the International Scientific Conference for the Protection of Jerusalem and Islamic and Christian Sanctities in November.