FM, UN Mideast envoy warn against dangers of Israeli annexation plan

AMMAN — Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov on Wednesday reviewed international efforts to prevent Israel from implementing its decision to annex occupied Palestinian lands.

Talks also went over facilitating the launch of direct and effective negotiations to resolve the conflict on the basis of the two-state solution and in accordance with international law, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Mladenov briefed Safadi on UN efforts towards convening a meeting of the Middle East Quartet — comprising Russia, the US, the EU and the UN — to discuss the possible measures to be taken to “save” the peace process, Petra reported.

Safadi also briefed the UN envoy on the Kingdom’s efforts to formulate a “clear and effective international position” against Israel’s implementation of its decision to annex occupied Palestinian lands, as well as to revive a “real” international effort to achieve lasting peace on the basis of the two-state solution, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions, as the only way to resolve the conflict, Petra added.

The two sides stressed that Israeli annexation of occupied Palestinian territories is a “breach of international law and will undermine the foundations of the peace process”.

The foreign minister also warned against the “catastrophic consequences” of any annexation decision for regional security and stability, noting that the decision “would kill the two-state solution, fuel conflict and make the one-state option inevitable”.

“The world could not remain silent in the face of institutionalising apartheid and racial discrimination,” he said.

Safeguarding a lasting peace and  international law requires the international community’s “immediate action” to confront the Israeli annexation decision, Safadi added.