Jordan draws roadmap as Arabs meet to deal with Trump’s decision

AMMAN — Jordan suggested a roadmap for Arabs to respond to US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, urging orchestrated pan-Arab action to contain the repercussions of the move and prevent any similar decisions.

In his remarks at the Arab League Council’s emergency meeting in Cairo, which was convened upon Jordan’s request as the rotating president of the Arab summit, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi outlined a five-step strategy for Arabs to deal with Trump’s decision, which will be followed by relocating the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city.

The five-point plan, which Safadi described as “impactful and programmed” calls for “taking action, in coordination with the international community to rescind the decision and taking steps to prevent other countries from following the steps of Washington. This necessitates forming an Arab delegation to visit influential world capitals to push for the two-state solution to the Mideast conflict,” Safadi said, adding that the entire world should then recognise the emerging independent Palestinian state, within the pre-1967 lines and with East Jerusalem as its capital.   

Amman also urged Arab states to adopt an effective approach to explain to the rest of the world the risks inherent in altering the status quo in Jerusalem or its character.

Safadi reiterated Jordan’s rejection of Trump’s decision as a violation of the international law, saying that any new realities stemming from it are null and void. 

He stressed anew that Jerusalem’s fate should be decided in the final-status negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis, which should lead to the envisioned Palestinian state.

On the sidelines of the meeting in Cairo on Jerusalem, Safadi met separately with his Egyptian and Palestinian counterparts Sameh Shoukry and Riyad Al Maliki.

During the meetings, Safadi briefed the two ministers on Jordan’s efforts to deal with Trump’s decision. 

Safadi flew to Cairo from Bahrain, where he, earlier in the day, took part in Manama Dialogue 2017, where he stressed that the most serious security threat to the region is the continuation of Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Depriving Palestinians from their legitimate right to establish an independent state on the lines of 1967 amplifies the security threats, he said.

During the dialogue’s first session titled “creating a stable regional security structure”, the top diplomat said that Trump’s decision on Jerusalem would instigate further unrest in the region as it violates all international conventions and increase feelings of “bitterness and frustration”.

The minister noted that it is not possible to accept interventions of “others” in the Arab affairs, as that would lead to more conflicts.  

On Friday, Safadi and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini agreed that the fate of Jerusalem is a final status issue and can only be resolved in final status negotiations in accordance with international resolutions, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

During their meeting in Brussels, Safadi and Mogherini stressed on the need to limit the negative consequences of the United States’ decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, which was rejected by Jordan because it is a violation of the international law and a dangerous step that will provoke anger throughout the Arab and Muslim worlds.

Safadi said that the occupation is the basis of tension in the region and there will be neither stability nor security without doing justice to Palestinians and their right to freedom and statehood with East Jerusalem as Palestine’s capital. 

Mogherini expressed her concern following the US’ decision, stressing on the European Union’s support for the two-state solution as the only way to achieve peace, in which Jerusalem would be a capital for two states. 

Mogherini praised Jordan’s role in achieving stability and security under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah, stressing the importance of supporting Jordan.