“As custodians of Jerusalem’s Muslim and Christian holy sites, we are committed to protecting the historical and legal status quo and to their safety and future,” the king said at the 77th annual UN General Assembly in New York.

“And as a Muslim leader, let me say clearly, that we are committed to defending the rights, precious heritage and historic identity of the Christian people of our region,” he said.

“The rights of churches in Jerusalem are threatened. This cannot continue. Christianity is vital to the past and present of our region and the Holy Land. It must remain an integral part of our future,” King Abdullah said.

“Today, the future of Jerusalem is an urgent concern. The city is holy to billions of Muslims, Christians and Jews around the world,” King Abdullah said.

“Undermining Jerusalem’s legal and historical status quo triggers global tensions and deepens religious divides. The holy city must not be a place for hatred and division,” he told the gathering of world leaders.

Recently there have been tensions and clashes around the Christian and Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City, particularly in Temple Mount, known as Haram al-Sharif or referred to as the Al-Aqsa compound by Muslims — Judaism’s holiest site and Islam’s third holiest. It was built by Umayyad ruler Abd Al Malik Ibn Marwan in the late seventh century.

There have also been restrictions imposed by Israel on the number of worshipers in and around the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, as was done during Holy Week past April.

King Abdullah has often stressed the historical and religious responsibility of safeguarding Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, under the Hashemite Custodianship, as well as protecting the rights of Muslim and Christian worshippers.

He also works with regional and international partners to end violations in Jerusalem and coordinates with other Arab political leaders to take action against any violations that endanger the coexistence of the different faith communities in the Holy City.