Jordan has taken all measures to halt Israeli airport plan — gov’t

AMMAN — The government on Tuesday said that it has taken all measures to protest an Israeli plan to build an airport near the border north of Aqaba that is considered a threat to Jordan’s airspace security.

During an “oversight” House session, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said that the government is aware of all the details regarding the Israeli scheme, adding that the Foreign Ministry, through Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, has made all the necessary contacts with international parties and Israeli officials to assert that the airport’s location constitutes a violation to Jordan’s sovereignty, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.  

The issue was raised after MP Rula Hroub said she was not convinced with the government’s reply to a query she had filed, insisting that Judeh take the responsibility for alleged failure to press for a halt to Israeli plans, suggesting a vote of no confidence against the minister. For lack of quorum, the Chamber failed to vote on the proposition — whether or not to hold a no-confidence session — and Lower House First Deputy Speaker Ahmad Safadi, who chaired the session, postponed the discussion till next Tuesday.

For her part, Transport Minister Lina Shbeeb confirmed that the planned Israeli airport is a violation to the Kingdom’s sovereignty, outlining the steps authorities have taken to halt the plan, adding that the International Civil Aviation Organisation will hold a session to vote over the Jordanian complaint and establish whether the Israeli facility poses a violation to Jordan’s right and a danger to its airspace security. She did not elaborate on the timing of the vote.

The airport, which Israel plans to build some 18 kilometres north of its port city of Eilat on the Gulf of Aqaba, would serve domestic and international flights and is projected to open in 2016, according to Israel’s Haaretz newspaper.

In previous statement, the Foreign Ministry said the airport is in violation of international laws, especially Article 1 of the 1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation.