AMMAN, Jordan

Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Monday reiterated his position on protecting the Palestinian people and cause against conspiracies.

Speaking before Jordanian officials, King Abdullah said that Jordan will continue to stand by the Palestinians to help and protect them and to work against the conspiracies against both them and the Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem.

Jordan has been the official custodian of Muslim and Christian holy places in Jerusalem since 1924 and is publicly acclaimed as the custodian of Jerusalem's holy sites.

"We are aware of the challenges. We work day and night to protect our Palestinian brothers," Abdullah added.

His statements came amid heightened tensions across the occupied Palestinian territories, where several Israeli officials have called for a further expansion of settlement activities.

Estimates indicate that around 700,000 settlers are living in 164 settlements and 116 outposts in the occupied West Bank.

Under international law, all Jewish settlements in the occupied territories are considered illegal.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar