Judeh meets Abbas in Ramallah

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh on Thursday met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the latest developments in the Palestinian arena and efforts to resume Palestinian-Israeli negotiations. 

At the Ramallah meeting, Judeh stressed that there is no alternative to negotiations that address all final-status issues and lead to an independent Palestinian state within the June 4, 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on relevant international terms of reference and the Arab Peace Initiative.

He added that the envisioned solution should ensure that Jordanian higher interests are preserved and guarantee the security and stability of the region's peoples, emphasising that such is the unwavering stand of the Kingdom, which it consistently promotes at each platform worldwide, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Islamic and Christian sites are a top priority for His Majesty King Abdullah and Jordan, and the Kingdom will always protect them and respond decisively to any violations against the sanctity of these places, the minister said.

Judeh also highlighted Jordan's success as a non-permanent member at the UN Security Council to impose the term “Al Haram Al Sharif” (noble sanctuary) in reference to Al Aqsa Mosque in the literature of the international organisation.

The minister also conveyed King Abdullah’s greetings to Abbas and the Palestinian people, voicing His Majesty’s keenness to sustain communication and coordination with Palestinians, as well as supporting their aspirations to establish their independent state on their national soil, Petra added.

For his part, Abbas expressed his appreciation for His Majesty’s support for Palestinians to attain their legitimate rights, highlighting the high esteem King Abdullah enjoys at regional and international levels. 

In remarks to the press following the meeting, Judeh said that regardless of the regional events and the threats they pose, the Palestinian issue remains the central cause and the main driver of the region’s instability.

He also said the meeting addressed the installation of cameras at Al Aqsa Mosque, stressing that this Jordanian initiative aims at exposing all violations and assaults against holy sites.

The Jerusalem Awqaf Department, affiliated with the Awqaf Ministry, will be in charge of the cameras, which will cover an area of 144 dunums, monitored from a control room, Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani recently said, stressing the legal, moral and religious importance of this step, aimed at safeguarding holy sites against Israeli transgressions.

Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian negotiator with Israel, praised the King’s endeavours in telling the international community that victory over terrorism in the region requires ending the Israeli occupation and establishing the independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, according to Petra.